Calculation of Prompt Fission Product Average Cross Sections for Neutron-Induced Fission of 235U and 239Pu

Abstract

Yield-weighted average cross sections of neutron radiative capture, (n,2n), and (n,3n) reactions over prompt fission products (FPs) from 235U and 239Pu are calculated. The prompt fission production yields are taken from the ENDF/B-VII.0 library. The FPs for each fissile material exist over a range of approximately 1000 neutron-rich nuclides. Several nuclear reaction codes are utilized for calculating the cross sections on each individual fission product—EMPIRE-2.19, TALYS-1.0, GNASH, and CoH. The influence of the FP isomers on the average cross sections is examined with TALYS. We investigate the dependence of the average cross sections on the number of FPs taken for averaging. It is shown that the average capture cross section is much more sensitive to the number of FPs included, compared with the (n,2n) and (n,3n) reactions. An intercomparison of the calculated cross sections with the different reaction codes is carried out. In the capture reaction, EMPIRE predicted lower cross section than TALYS and CoH owing to different default assumptions used in the γ-ray strength function modeling. Moreover, the preequilibrium models implemented in each code give different predictions for the neutron-emission reactions, although the differences are relatively small. We also discuss a difference between the macroscopic and microscopic calculation options in TALYS for the pre-equilibrium model, optical potential model, and γ-ray strength function. The predictive capability of the reaction codes for the capture reaction is examined by comparing their calculations with the ENDF data, which are based on measurements. Compared with the historic Foster and Arthur's evaluation, our new (n,2n) predictions are similar, although our capture predictions are almost an order of magnitude higher. Recommended cross sections for use in applications have been tabulated in ENDF-formatted files.