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Experiments on photo-induced fission of 238U and 234U using bremsstrahlung with endpoint energies between 6 MeV and 9 MeV have been carried out at the superconducting Darmstadt electron linear accelerator S-DALINAC. A twin Frisch grid ionization chamber has been used to determine energy and mass distributions via the 2E-technique. The fission fragment emission angle, which is used to correct for energy loss in the target and backing material for a correct determination of fragment energy and mass, is deduced from the time difference between cathode and anode signals. The research program including the foreseen search for parity violation in photo-induced fission and first experimental results will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New, self-consistent, neutron-induced reaction cross-section calculations for 235,238U, 237Np, and 231,232,233Pa have been performed. The statistical model code STATIS was extended to take into account the multi-modality of the fission process. The three most dominant fission modes, the two asymmetric standard I (S1) and standard II (S2) modes, and the symmetric superlong (SL) mode have been taken into account. De-convoluted fission cross sections for these modes in 235,238U(n,f) and 237Np(n,f) based on experimental branching ratios, were calculated for the first time up to the second chance fission threshold. For 235U(n,f) and 233Pa(n,f), the calculations being made up to 50 MeV and 20 MeV incident neutron energy, respectively, higher fission chances have been considered. This implied the need for additional calculations for the neighbouring isotopes. As a side product also mass yield distributions could be calculated at energies hitherto not accessible by experiment. Experimental validation of the predictions is being envisaged. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectra of actinides are nuclear data of crucial importance. Based on experimental fission yield and total kinetic energy data, new calculations for the prompt neutron multiplicity and spectra for 238U(n,f), 237Np(n,f) in the incident neutron energy range up to the second chance fission threshold, for 238U(n,f), up to 50 MeV, and for 252Cf(SF) have been performed. For the first time the multi-modality of the fission process was taken into account up to the second fission chance (about 6 MeV). Additionally, for some isotopes a more realistic fission fragment residual temperature distribution as well as an anisotropy of the prompt neutron emission led to improved agreement between the calculation and experimental results. Also, the range of fission fragment pairs entering in the multiplicity and spectrum model was extended over the entire experimental fission-fragment mass range. This led to an improved version of the Los Alamos (LA) model and especially to an improved determination of the input model parameters. In addition the LA model is extended towards higher incident neutron energy, where the fission of compound nuclei formed by charged particle emission occurs. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of analysis of fluctuation in the delayed neutron yield on the basis of the multimodal fission model was applied to the low-energy resolved resonances for Pu-239. The present calculation using recent data of the fluctuation of the mode branching ratios for the resolved resonances showed both positive and negative resonance structure in the delayed neutron yield relative to the thermal neutron value. This is in contrast to the U-235 case, for which mainly negative dips of about -3.5% were predicted. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prompt neutron emission probability from neutron-induced fission in the resonance region is being investigated at the time-of-flight facility GELINA of the IRMM. A double Frisch-gridded ionization chamber is used as a fission-fragment detector. For the data acquisition of both the fission-fragment signals as well as the neutron detector signals the fast digitization technique has been applied. For the neutron detection, large-volume liquid scintillation detectors from the DEMON collaboration are used. A specialized data analysis program taking advantage of the digital filtering technique has been developed to treat the acquired data. Neutron multiplicity investigations for actinides, especially in resonance neutron-induced fission, are rather scarce. They are, however, important for reactor control and safety issues as well as for understanding the basic physics of the fission process. Fission yield measurements on both 235U and 239Pu without prompt neutron emission coincidence have shown that fluctuation of the fission-fragment mass distribution exists from resonance to resonance, larger in the case of 235U. To possibly explain these observations, the question now is whether the prompt neutron multiplicity shows similar fluctuations with resonance energy. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new evaluation of the neutron cross-section standards is now underway. This evaluation has been supported by the Working Party on International Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC), the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG), and an International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Program (CRP). The CRP has had the dominant role in producing these evaluations. An important goal is to produce the standards needed for the upcoming new ENDF/B-VII library. Since most neutron cross-section measurements are made relative to neutron cross-section standards, the standards evaluation is of crucial importance. The standard reactions to be evaluated are: H(n,n), 3He(n,p), 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α1γ), C(n,n), Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f), and 238U(n,f). These standards should receive international acceptance to ensure that all evaluation projects use the same set of standards. The last complete evaluation of the standards dates back almost 20 years. In the meantime quite a number of new and improved measurements have occurred for the cross-section standards. International efforts are presently underway to update the experimental database and to improve the evaluation process. Due to the need for high-energy standards, the energy range is being extended to 200 MeV for some of the cross-section standards. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is given of the progress achieved in an IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project (CRP) to improve the cross-section standards. The objectives of the CRP, started in 2002, were initially the understanding of the origin of the strong uncertainty reduction in R-matrix model fits and the improvement of the evaluation methodology. These aims were extended in 2003 to the preparation of new evaluations for the standard 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α1), 197Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f), and 238U(n,f) reactions. The methodology, codes, and experimental database developed by Poenitz and Hale for the ENDF/B-VI standards evaluation were taken as the basis for the new evaluation. The major results achieved by the CRP participants include the testing and intercomparison of a number of codes that can be used in the standards evaluation, updating the database of experimental results, analysis of the reasons leading to the strong uncertainty reduction in model fits, and a study of the bias in evaluated data caused by the Peelles’s Pertinent Puzzle (PPP) effect, which has been widely discussed in the nuclear data community since the ENDF/B-VI standards evaluation was completed. Preliminary results of the new standards evaluation are shown. The use of the new 235U(n,f) cross section leads to better consistency in calculations of some important integral experiments. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2005. With its 150-MeV Geel Electron Linear Accelerator (GELINA) and 7-MV Van de Graaff accelerator as multi-purpose neutron sources, it served the nuclear physics community for this period. The research in the field of nuclear fission was focused in recent years on both the measurement and calculation of fission cross sections, and the measurement of fission fragment properties. Fission cross sections were determined for 233Pa and 234U; the fission process was studied in the resolved resonance region of 239Pu(n,f) and for 251Cf(nth,f). These measurements derive their interest from accelerator driven systems, the thorium fuel cycle, high temperature reactors, safety issues of current reactors, and basic physics. The measurements are supported by several modeling efforts that aim at improving model codes and nuclear data evaluation. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]