Energy dependence of fission product yields in the second-chance fission region

An extensive dataset of cumulative fission product yields has been generated under a joint collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL). The energy dependence of the cumulative yield for a select number of high-yield fission products has been measured using quasimonoenergetic neutrons with energies between 5.5 and 11.0 MeV. This is in addition to previously published data covering 0.5-4.5 and 14.8 MeV. The absolute number of fissions was determined during the irradiation period using dual-fission ionization chambers, and the fission products were measured postactivation by whole target γ-ray spectroscopy. This paper presents the absolute cumulative fission product yields as a function of incident neutron energy from the neutron-induced fission of U235, U238, and Pu239 isotopes at four incident energies in the second-chance fission region and compares them with existing literature values. Corrections relevant to this collaboration's previously published data are also discussed.

Duke Scholars

Author Sean Finch  

Author Werner Tornow Physics

Author Calvin R. Howell Physics