Fission Of 235U Research Articles

Impact of fission neutron energies on reactor antineutrino spectra

Recent measurements of reactor-produced antineutrino fluxes and energy spectra are inconsistent with models based on measured thermal fission beta spectra. In this paper, we examine the dependence of antineutrino production on fission neutron energy. In particular, the variation of fission product yields with neutron energy has been considered as a possible source of the discrepancies between antineutrino observations and models. In simulations of low-enriched and highly-enriched reactor core designs, we find a substantial fraction of fissions (from 5% to more than 40%) are caused by non-thermal neutrons. Using tabulated evaluations of nuclear fission and decay, we estimate the variation in antineutrino emission by the prominent fission parents U-235, Pu-239, and Pu-241 versus neutron energy. The differences in fission neutron energy are found to produce less than 1% variation in detected antineutrino rate per fission of U-235, Pu-239, and Pu-241. Corresponding variations in the antineutrino spectrum are found to be less than 10% below 7 MeV antineutrino energy, smaller than current model uncertainties. We conclude that insufficient modeling of fission neutron energy is unlikely to be the cause of the various reactor anomalies. Our results also suggest that comparisons of antineutrino measurements at low-enriched and highly-enriched reactors can safely neglect the differences in the distributions of their fission neutron energies.

Standardless fission-track ages of the IUGS age standards

Standardless fission-track ages for four zircon, two titanite and three apatite age standards, most of them recommended by the Fission Track Working Group of the IUGS Subcommission on Geochronology, were redetermined. The age calculations used the decay constant for spontaneous fission of 238U (λf = (8.5 ± 0.1) 10−17 a−1) recommended by the IUPAC, the ratio of etchable to latent track length in both the dated minerals (zircon, titanite and apatite) and mica detectors and the 187 track counts with the external-detector and population methods. We found the resulting standardless fission-track ages are in line with results from more recent high precision geochronology including zircon U-Pb dating. These results confirm that standardless fission-track dating of zircon, titanite and apatite with the external-detector method is feasible, as well as dating of apatite with the population method, and that ζ-calibration can be based on the zircon U-Pb ages of the current standard samples. On the other hand, there is no room for an age correction for partial annealing of the fossil tracks based on their mean confined-track lengths of the apatite, titanite and zircon age standards.

Quantitative Identification of the Annealing Degree of Apatite Fission Tracks Using Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS).

Apatite fission-track (AFT) analysis, a widely used low-temperature thermochronology method, can provide details of the hydrocarbon generation history of source rocks for use in hydrocarbon exploration. The AFT method is based on the annealing behavior of fission tracks generated by 238U fission in apatite particles during geological history. Due to the cumbersome experimental steps and high expense, it is imperative to find an efficient and inexpensive technique to determinate the annealing degree of AFT. In this study, on the basis of the ellipsoid configuration of tracks, the track volume fraction model (TVFM) is established and the fission-track volume index is proposed. Furthermore, terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is used for the first time to identify the variation of the AFT annealing degree of Durango apatite particles heated at 20, 275, 300, 325, 450, and 500 ℃ for 10 h. The THz absorbance of the sample increases with the degree of annealing. In addition, the THz absorption index is exponentially related to annealing temperature and can be used to characterize the fission-track volume index. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy can be an ancillary technique for AFT thermochronological research. More work is urgently needed to extrapolate experimental data to geological conditions.

Systematics of Nd cumulative fission yields for neutron-induced fission of 235U, 238U, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu

Systematics of cumulative fission yields of the neodymium isotopes for the thermal and fast neutron fission of 235U, 238U, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu were obtained by combining integral results from the PROFIL experiments with theoretical calculations from the GEF code. The systematic behavior with the neodymium mass number (A = 143, 145, 146, 148, 150) deduced from the experimental trends is consistent with the smooth variation predicted by the GEF calculations, excepted for the 238U(n,f) reaction. For this system, isotopic and isotonic effects in fission-fragment shell structures are not adequately taken into account in the theoretical calculation. The obtained results also confirm the weak energy dependence of the Nd cumulative fission yields in the energy range of interest for thermal and sodium fast reactors. They suggest an energy dependency comparable to the experimental uncertainty which lies below 3%, for the 235U, 239Pu and 241Pu fissile isotopes.

Calibration experiment and the neutronics analyses on the LHD neutron flux monitors for the deuterium plasma experiment

Prior to the deuterium experiments of the Large Helical Device (LHD), an in situ neutron calibration experiment was carried out by using an 800 MBq 252Cf neutron source in November 2016, where a neutron flux monitor, a neutron activation system and a vertical neutron camera are calibrated. This paper concentrates on the in situ calibration for the neutron flux monitor. The neutron flux monitor based on 235U fission chambers and 10B and 3He proportional counters are positioned at three locations outside the LHD cryostat. The counts are measured during continuous rotation of the 252Cf neutron source on the typical magnetic axis of the plasma by a toy train, where the neutron source can be regarded as a ring neutron source. Detection efficiencies for the 252Cf ring source are derived by (total counts)/(total emitted neutron number) in the continuous rotation of the neutron source. Detection efficiencies for the real plasma neutron source are obtained from the measured detection efficiencies with the correction factor taking account of the deference between the 252Cf ring source and the real plasma neutron source evaluated by MCNP calculations with the three-dimensional model of the LHD. Finally, the uncertainty of the total neutron emission rate measurement is discussed.

Cross-section adjustment in the fast energy range on the basis of an Asymptotic Progressing nuclear data Incremental Adjustment (APIA) methodology

The data assimilation benchmark launched by the “Subgroup 33” on ‘‘Methods and issues for the combined use of integral experiments and covariance data’’ of the Working Party on Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Nuclear Science Committee is investigated by means of a recently proposed Asymptotic Progressing nuclear data Incremental Adjustment (APIA) technique. More specifically, two distinct APIA simulations having a different sequence are compared on the basis of the deterministic code system ERANOS. The analysis mainly uses a priori cross-sections along with covariance data in 33 groups both stemming from the TENDL evaluation. This basic nuclear data, which is preprocessed before the APIA methodology is used, is consistent in terms of (1) data source and (2) combined processing on the basis of the Total Monte Carlo method. The similar a posteriori cross-sections being provided, largely avoiding conflicts between partial adjustments as a result of the individual incremental assimilation steps are indicative of consistent adjustments according to a previous study. Correspondingly, the TENDL inelastic scattering cross-sections of 238U and 23Na would need some reductions essentially as a consequence of the assimilation of ZPPR9 experimental data. Another important result of the study is that there is a markedly trend of improvement for the a posteriori as against the a priori ratios of computed (C) to experimental values especially as regards the central 238U fission reaction rate per atom relative to the central 235U fission reaction rate per atom, and also as regards sodium coolant density effects; independently of the APIA sequence, the a posteriori C-values in most cases lie within the one-sigma experimental uncertainty or just a little outside, and the resulting reduced uncertainties of the a posteriori as against the a priori C-values are found correspondingly smaller than the experimental uncertainties. It appears that a suitable adjustment would likely require as a basis the use of consistent cross-sections and covariance data.

On the Relative Signs of “ROT-Effects” in Ternary and Binary Fission of 233U and 235U Nuclei Induced by Polarized Cold Neutrons

Signs of the ROT-effects in ternary fission of 233U and 235U experimentally defined by PNPI group are the same, whereas in binary fission defined by ITEP group are opposite. This contradiction cannot be explained by the errors in the experiments of both groups, since such instrumental effects would be too large not to be noticed. Therefore, it is necessary to find the answer to this problem in the differences of the ternary and binary fission mechanisms.

Evaluations of Energy Spectra of Neutrons Emitted Promptly in Neutron-induced Fission of 235U and 239Pu

The energy spectra of neutrons emitted promptly in the neutron-induced fission reactions of 235U and 239Pu were re-evaluated for ENDF/B-VIII.0. These evaluations are based on a careful modeling of all relevant physics processes, an extensive analysis of experimental data and a detailed quantification of pertinent uncertainties. Energy spectra of neutrons emitted in up to fourth chance fission are considered and both compound and pre-equilibrium processes are included. Also, important nuclear model parameters, such as the average total kinetic energy of the fission fragments and the multiple chance fission probabilities, and their uncertainties are estimated based on experimental knowledge, model information and evaluated data. In addition to experimental information already available for ENDF/B-VII.1, these new evaluations make use of recently published experimental data either of high precision or spanning a broad incident energy range, information on legacy measurements explaining discrepancies and recently measured data of the average total kinetic energy as a function of incident neutron energy. The resulting evaluated data and covariances agree well with the experimental database used for the evaluation. However, the evaluated spectra are softer than the 235U and 239Pu ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.2 evaluations for incident neutron energies Einc≤1.5 MeV and Einc≤5 MeV, respectively. For Einc>5 MeV, the evaluated spectra show structures due to the improved modeling which are not present in ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 but can be observed in JENDL-4.0 evaluations. Part of these new evaluations were adopted for ENDF/B-VIII.0, while the ENDF/B-VII.1 239Pu PFNS was retained for Einc≤5 MeV awaiting more conclusive experimental evidence.

Erratum: Comparison of yields of neutron-rich nuclei in proton- and photon-induced 238U fission [Phys. Rev. C 94 , 054605 (2016)

Erratum: Comparison of yields of neutron-rich nuclei in proton- and photon-induced <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mrow /><mml:mn mathvariant="bold">238</mml:mn></mml:msup><mml:mi mathvariant="bold">U</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:math> fission [Phys. Rev. C <b>94</b> , 054605 (2016)

Measurement of the ROT effect in the neutron induced fission of 235U in the 0.3 eV resonance at a hot source of polarized neutrons

The TRI and ROT asymmetries in fission of heavy nuclei have been extensively studied during more than a decade. The effects were first discovered in the ternary fission in a series of experiments performed at the ILL reactor (Grenoble) by a collaboration of Russian and European institutes, and were carefully measured for a number of fissioning nuclei. Later on, the ROT effect has been observed in the emission of prompt gamma rays and neutrons in fission of 235U and 233U, although its value was an order of magnitude smaller than in the α-particle emission from ternary fission. All experiments performed so far are done with cold polarized neutrons, what assumes a mixture of several spin states, the weights of these states being not well known. The present paper describes the first attempt to get “clean” data by performing the measurement of gamma and neutron asymmetries in an isolated resonance of 235U at the POLI instrument of the FRM2 reactor in Garching.

Studying fission neutrons with 2E-2v and 2E

This work aims at measuring prompt-fission neutrons at different excitation energies of the nucleus. Two independent techniques, the 2E-2v and the 2E techniques, are used to map the characteristics of the mass-dependent prompt fission neutron multiplicity, v(A), when the excitation energy is increased. The VERDI 2E-2v spectrometer is being developed at JRC-GEEL. The Fission Fragment (FF) energies are measured using two arrays of 16 silicon (Si) detectors each. The FFs velocities are obtained by time-of-flight, measured between micro-channel plates (MCP) and Si detectors. With MCPs placed on both sides of the fission source, VERDI allows for independent timing measurements for both fragments. 252Cf(sf) was measured and the present results revealed particular features of the 2E-2v technique. Dedicated simulations were also performed using the GEF code to study important aspects of the 2E-2v technique. Our simulations show that prompt neutron emission has a non-negligible impact on the deduced fragment data and affects also the shape of v(A). Geometrical constraints lead to a total-kinetic energy-dependent detection efficiency. The 2E technique utilizes an ionization chamber together with two liquid scintillator detectors. Two measurements have been performed, one of 252Cf(sf) and another one of thermal-neutron induced fission in 235U(n,f). Results from 252Cf(sf) are reported here.

U-238 fission and Pu-239 production in subcritical assembly

The project touches upon an issue of U-238 fission reactions and Pu-239 production reactions in subcritical assembly. The experiment took place in November 2014 at the Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems (JINR, Dubna) using PHASOTRON.Data of this experiment were analyzed in Laboratory of Information Technologies (LIT). Four MCNPX models were considered for simulation: Bertini/Dresnen, Bertini/Abla, INCL4/Drensnen, INCL4/Abla. The main goal of the project was to compare the experimental data and simulation results. We obtain a good agreement of experimental data and computation results especially for detectors placed besides the assembly axis. In addition, the U-238 fission reactions are more probable to be observed in the region of a higher particle energy spectrum, located closer to the assembly axis and the particle beam as well and vice versa Pu-239 production reactions were dominant in the peripheral region of geometry.

Lifetime measurement in neutron-rich A~100 nuclei

Lifetimes of excited states of the 98;100;102Zr nuclei were measured by using the Generalized Centroid Difference Method. The nuclei of interest were populated via neutron-induced fission of 241Pu and 235U during the EXILL-FATIMA campaign. The obtained lifetimes were used to calculate the B(E2) transition strengths and β deformation parameters which were then compared with the recent theoretical predictions obtained with Monte Carlo Shell Model.

Fission fragment yields and total kinetic energy release in neutron-induced fission of235,238U,and239Pu

Different aspects of the nuclear fission process have been studied at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) using various instruments and experimental techniques. Properties of the fragments emitted in fission have been investigated using Frisch-grid ionization chambers, a Time Projection Chamber (TPC), and the SPIDER instrument which employs the 2v-2E method. These instruments and experimental techniques have been used to determine fission product mass yields, the energy dependent total kinetic energy (TKE) release, and anisotropy in neutron-induced fission of U-235, U-238 and Pu-239.

Tests of ionization chambers for future photofission experiments

A recent set-up of a multi-cathode Frisch-grid ionization chamber and experimental results of a proof-of-principle experiment are presented. Preliminary data on the obtained polar angular and mass distributions as well as total kinetic energy of fission fragments produced in neutron-induced fission of 232Th and 238U are discussed that show that the chamber has been operated successfully. For the additional measurement of the azimuthal angular distribution, a design of segmented anodes has been tested. Preliminary data do not allow a suffcient reconstruction of the azimuthal angle.

Investigation of the heavy nuclei fission with anomalously high values of the fission fragments total kinetic energy

Binary fission of 232Th and 238U induced by fast neutrons were under intent investigation in the IPPE during recent years. These measurements were performed with a twin ionization chamber with Frisch grids. Signals from the detector were digitized for further processing with a specially developed software. It results in information of kinetic energies, masses, directions and Bragg curves of registered fission fragments. Total statistics of a few million fission events were collected during each experiment. It was discovered that for several combinations of fission fragment masses their total kinetic energy was very close to total free energy of the fissioning system. The probability of such fission events for the fast neutron induced fission was found to be much higher than for spontaneous fission of 252Cf and thermal neutron induced fission of 235U. For experiments with 238U target the energy of incident neutrons were 5 MeV and 6.5 MeV. Close analysis of dependence of fission fragment distribution on compound nucleus excitation energy gave us some explanation of the phenomenon. It could be a process in highly excited compound nucleus which leads the fissioning system from the scission point into the fusion valley with high probability.

Excited States and Collectivity in 88Se

The γ decays of excited states in the very neutron-rich nucleus 88Se have been observed following the cold neutron-induced fission of 235U at the PF1B facility of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble. The EXILL array was used to measure γ - γ - γ coincidences, which were then analysed to build a level scheme of 88Se. A low (2+1) energy hints at the onset of quadrupole deformation and the identification of possible members of a (2+2) band provide evidence for γ vibrations. Shell-model calculations using a 78Ni core reproduce the experimental decay scheme well, implying that interactions between particles in the π f5/2 p and vsd orbits are responsible for much of the collectivity present. The algebraic collective model has also been used to interpret the experimental data, showing that that the experimental spectrum is consistent with 88Se being a transitional nucleus, possessing weak static β deformation and γ instability.

The γ-γ fast-timing technique and the EXILL&amp;FATIMA campaign

At the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, germanium-gated γ-γ fast-timing lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states in neutron-rich nuclei have been performed within a prompt γ-ray spectroscopy experimental campaign. We report on results obtained from the cold-neutron induced fission of 235U. The excited secondary fission products were stopped almost instantaneously within the thick target and the γ rays emitted were collected triggerlessly using the EXILL&amp;FATIMA mixed array of HPGe and LaBr3(Ce) detectors. Precise lifetimes could be determined by analysing the γ-γ time difference spectra using the generalized centroid difference method. This picosecondsensitive method provides many advantages and is briefly explained. Still, the major source of systematic errors is related to the contribution of time-correlated Compton background. The EXILL&amp;FATIMA results are discussed with respect to the typical energy-dependent timing behaviour of the background. According to the time response of the background, appropriate methods and a time correction for the sub-nanosecond regime are proposed.

From fission yield measurements to evaluation: status on statistical methodology for the covariance question

Studies on fission yields have a major impact on the characterization and the understanding of the fission process and are mandatory for reactor applications. Fission yield evaluation represents the synthesis of experimental and theoretical knowledge to perform the best estimation of mass, isotopic and isomeric yields. Today, the output of fission yield evaluation is available as a function of isotopic yields. Without the explicitness of evaluation covariance data, mass yield uncertainties are greater than those of isotopic yields. This is in contradiction with experimental knowledge where the abundance of mass yield measurements is dominant. These last years, different covariance matrices have been suggested but the experimental part of those are neglected. The collaboration between the LPSC Grenoble and the CEA Cadarache starts a new program in the field of the evaluation of fission products in addition to the current experimental program at Institut Laue-Langevin. The goal is to define a new methodology of evaluation based on statistical tests to define the different experimental sets in agreement, giving different solutions for different analysis choices. This study deals with the thermal neutron induced fission of 235U. The mix of data is non-unique and this topic will be discussed using the Shannon entropy criterion in the framework of the statistical methodology proposed.

Measurements of the Prompt Fission Neutron Spectrum at LANSCE: The Chi-Nu Experiment

The goal of the Chi-Nu experiment at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center is to measure the prompt fission neutron spectra from major actinides using a double time-of-flight method with a pulsed, white incoming neutron source. Fission events are detected with a parallel-plate avalanche counter and outgoing neutrons are detected with either a 6Li-glass or liquid scintillator detector array for low- or high-energy neutrons, respectively. A detector response matrix for the interaction of neutrons with the experimental environment for neutrons measured with the Chi-Nu 6Li-glass detector array has been calculated to obtain a full understanding of the measured Chi-Nu data and also to allow for nearly instantaneous production of simulated Chi-Nu data spectra. Prompt fission neutron spectra corresponding to 19 incoming neutron energy ranges from 0.7-20 MeV have been extracted using the ratio-of-ratios method with Chi-Nu 6Li-glass data on the neutron-induced fission of 235U.