Neutron-Induced Resonance Fission Cross Section ofPu238

Abstract

The neutron-induced fission cross section of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{238}$ has been measured from 2 to 300 eV. Fission fragments were detected with a corona spark chamber. The data were normalized by extending the measurements into the MeV region, where the cross section is known. The fission components of the resonance cross section are roughly ten times the upper limits set from earlier work. A value for $〈\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{f}}{D}〉=({{0.77}_{\ensuremath{-}0.4}}^{+1.5})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ was obtained. This value is compared with predictions from fast-neutron-induced fission.