https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201921103009
Absolute cross section measurements of 238U(n,f) and 237Np(n,f) in the neutron energy range 1-2.4 MeV
1 National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
2 EC-JRC-Directorate G-Nuclear Safety & Security, Unit G.2, Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium
* e-mail: paula.salvador.castineira@npl.co.uk
Published online: 5 June 2019
New standard (n,f) cross sections other than 235U are important to study the relevant cross sections for Generation-IV power plants. A specific need for such standards is for performing new experiments with quasimonoenergetic neutron beams, such as those produced by Van de Graaf accelerators. Neutrons down-scattered to low energies in the experimental environment, so called room-return, become relevant for this type of measurements. Hence, a standard (n,f) cross section with a fission threshold is of great interest, in order to suppress the contribution from room-return background. For this reason we have performed two experiments at the VDG of the National Physical Laboratory to measure absolutely the (n,f) cross sections of 235U, 238U and 237Np in the fast neutron energy region. Our preliminary results are in agreement with the most up-to-date evaluations.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2019
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
