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A new deterministic modelling taking into account the successive emission of prompt neutrons from initial fragments of a fragmentation range {A, Z, TKE} constructed as in the Point-by-Point (PbP) treatment is described. The good agreement of different prompt emission quantities obtained from this modelling (e.g. ⓱(A), ⓱(TKE), Eγ(A), Eγ(TKE), etc.) with the experimental data and the results of the PbP model and other Monte-Carlo models validates the present modelling of sequential emission. The distributions of different residual quantities, including the residual temperature distributions P(T) of light and heavy fragments allow to obtain a new parameterisation of P(T) which can be used in the PbP model and the Los Alamos model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is an increased interest in a complete study of the neutroninduced fission of 237Np. This is due to the need of accurate and reliable nuclear data for nuclear science and technology. 237Np is generated (and accumulated) in the nuclear reactor core during reactor operation. As one of the most abundant long-lived isotopes in spent fuel ("waste"), the incineration of 237Np becomes an important issue. One scenario for burning of 237Np and other radio-toxic minor actinides suggests they are to be mixed into the fuel of future fast-neutron reactors, employing the so-called transmutation and partitioning technology. For testing present fission models, which are at the basis of new generation nuclear reactor developments, highly accurate and detailed neutron-induced nuclear reaction data is needed. However, the EXFOR nuclear database for 237Np on neutron-induced capture cross-section,ργ, and fission cross-section, ρf, as well as on the characteristics of capture and fission resonance parameters (Γ;γ, ρf, ρoΓf, fragments mass-energy yield distributions, multiplicities of neutronsνn and γ-rays νγ), has not been updated for decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total deformation energy at the moment of the neck rupture for 236U and 252Cf is calculated using the Strutinsky's prescription and nuclear shapes described in terms of Cassinian ovals generalized by the inclusion of four additional shape parameters: α1, α2, α3, and α4. The corresponding fragment-mass distributions are estimated supposing that each point in the deformation space is occupied according to a canonical distribution. The energy distributions of fission fragments are calculated assuming the point-charge approximation for the Coulomb interaction of fission fragments. Finally, an alternative definition of the nuclear scission point configuration relying on the minimization of liquid drop energy (optimal shape method) is used. Both definitions lead, for these two nuclei, to a reasonably good agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompt neutron multiplicity distributions ?(A) are required for prompt emission correction of double energy (2E) measurements of fission fragments to determine pre-neutron fragment properties. The lack of experimental ν(A) data especially at incident neutron energies (En) where the multi-chance fission occurs impose the use of ν(A) predicted by models. The Point-by-Point model of prompt emission is able to provide the individual ν(A) of the compound nuclei of the main and secondary nucleus chains undergoing fission at a given En. The total ν(A) is obtained by averaging these individual ν(A) over the probabilities of fission chances (expressed as total and partial fission cross-section ratios). An indirect validation of the total ν(A) results is proposed. At high En, above 70MeV, the PbP results of individual ν(A) of the first few nuclei of the main and secondary nucleus chains exhibit an almost linear increase. This shape is explained by the damping of shell effects entering the super-fluid expression of the level density parameters. They tend to approach the asymptotic values for most of the fragments. This fact leads to a smooth and almost linear increase of fragment excitation energy with the mass number that is reflected in a smooth and almost linear behaviour of ν(A). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear de-excitation process of fission fragments (FF) provides fundamental information for the understanding of nuclear fission and nuclear structure in neutron-rich isotopes. The variation of the prompt-neutron multiplicity, ?(A), as a function of the incident neutron energy (En) is one of many open questions. It leads to significantly different treatments in various fission models and implies that experimental data are analyzed based on contradicting assumptions. One critical question is whether the additional excitation energy (Eexc) is manifested through an increase of ν(A) for all fragments or for the heavy ones only. A systematic investigation of ν(A) as a function of En has been initiated. Correlations between prompt-fission neutrons and fission fragments are obtained by using liquid scintillators in conjunction with a Frisch-grid ionization chamber. The proof-of-principle has been achieved on the reaction 235U(nth,f) at the Van De Graff (VdG) accelerator of the JRC-Geel using a fully digital data acquisition system. Neutrons from 252Cf(sf) were measured separately to quantify the neutron-scattering component due to surrounding shielding material and to determine the intrinsic detector efficiency. Prelimenary results on ν(A) and spectrum in correlation with FF properties are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of prompt γ -ray emission in nuclear fission has a great relevance for the assessment of prompt heat generation in a reactor core and for the better understanding of the de-excitation mechanism of fission fragments. Some years ago experimental data was scarce and available only from a few fission reactions, 233,235U(nth, f), 239Pu(nth, f), and 252Cf(sf). Initiated by a high priority data request published by the OECD/NEA a dedicated prompt fission γ -ray measurement program is being conducted at the Joint Research Centre Geel. In recent years we obtained new and accurate prompt fission γ -ray spectrum (PFGS) characteristics (average number of photons per fission, average total energy per fission and mean photon energy) from 252Cf(sf), 235U(nth, f) and 239,241Pu(nth, f) within 2% of uncertainty. In order to understand the dependence of prompt fission γ -ray emission on the compound nuclear mass and excitation energy, we started a first measurement campaign on spontaneously fissioning plutonium and curium isotopes. Results on PFGS characteristics from 240,242Pu(sf) show a dependence on the fragment mass distribution rather than on the average prompt neutron multiplicity, pointing to a more complex competition between prompt fission γ -ray and neutron emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of the proton even-odd effects in prompt emission in fission for even-Z actinides revealed basic features of the global even-odd effect in prompt emission similar with those in fission fragment yields and some particular aspects, such as: (1) the even-odd effects in prompt emission are the result of two contributions: a dominant intrinsic even-odd effect due to the even-odd nuclear character of fragments reflected in their properties and a weak even-odd effect caused by the fragment distributions (over which the multi-parametric matrices are averaged); (2) oscillations with a periodicity of about 5 mass units are present in different prompt emission quantities corresponding to even-Z and odd-Z fragmentations independent on the size of the even-odd effect in the charge yield Y(Z). These oscillations are due to the periodicity of nuclear properties of fragments; (3) a local even-odd effect in prompt emission quantities has been recently investigated. Similarities between prompt emission quantities and fragment yields were found in the case of the local even-odd effect, too. The local even-odd effect in both fragment charge yields and prompt emission quantities exhibit a pronounced increase at asymmetry values corresponding to fragmentations in which the heavy fragment (Z = 50 and/or N = 82) or the light one (Z = 28) is magic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a new setup to measure prompt γ -rays from the 235U(nth, f) reaction. The setup consists of two multi-wire proportional counters (MWPCs) to detect the fission fragments, two LaBr3(Ce) scintillators to measure the γ -rays. The highly efficient setup was installed at the PF1B beam line of the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL). We have successfully measured the γ -ray spectrum up to about 20MeV for the fist time in neutron-induced fission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benchmark reactor calculations have revealed an underestimation of γ -heat following fission of up to 28%. To improve the modelling of new nuclear reactors, the OECD/NEA initiated a nuclear data High Priority Request List (HPRL) entry for the major isotopes (235U, 239Pu). In response to that HPRL entry, we executed a dedicated measurement program on prompt fission γ -rays employing state-of-the-art lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) detectors with superior timing and good energy resolution. Our new results from 252Cf(sf), 235U(nth, f) and 241Pu(nth, f) provide prompt fission γ -ray spectra characteristics : average number of photons per fission, average total energy per fission and mean photon energy; all within 2% of uncertainty. We present preliminary results on 239Pu(nth, f), recently measured at the Budapest Neutron Centre and supported by the CHANDA Trans-national Access Activity, as well as discussing our different published results in comparison to the historical data and what it says about the discrepancy observed in the benchmark calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VERDI (VElocity foR Direct particle Identification) is a fission-fragment spectrometer recently put into operation at JRC-Geel. It allows measuring the kinetic energy and velocity of both fission fragments simultaneously. The velocity provides information about the pre-neutron mass of each fission fragment when isotropic prompt-neutron emission from the fragments is assumed. The kinetic energy, in combination with the velocity, provides the post-neutron mass. From the difference between pre- and post-neutron masses, the number of neutrons emitted by each fragment can be determined. Multiplicity as a function of fragment mass and total kinetic energy is one important ingredient, essential for understanding the sharing of excitation energy between fission fragments at scission, and may be used to benchmark nuclear de-excitation models. The VERDI spectrometer design is a compromise between geometrical efficiency and mass resolution. The spectrometer consists of an electron detector located close to the target and two arrays of silicon detectors, each located 50 cm away from the target. In the present configuration pre-neutron and post-neutron mass distributions are in good agreement with reference data were obtained. Our latest measurements performed with spontaneously fissioning 252Cf is presented along with the developed calibration procedure to obtain pulse height defect and plasma delay time corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of even-odd effects in the prompt emission of even Z actinides showed a sawtooth shape of ν(Z) with staggering in the asymmetric fission region. Average prompt emission quantities as a function of A, e.g. ν(A), of even Z fragmentations are higher than those of odd Z fragmentations and they exhibit oscillations with a periodicity of about 5 mass units in the asymmetric fission region. This periodicity is not due to the Z even-odd effect in fragment distributions. The even-odd effect in <ν>(TKE) is increasing with increasing TKE and it decreases with increasing mass of the fissioning nucleus. The global even-odd effect in total average prompt emission quantities is decreasing with increasing mass of the fissioning nucleus. In the case of an even-odd fissioning nucleus, 234U(n,f), the global even-odd effect in prompt emission quantities exhibits a very slow variation with the incident neutron energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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]

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]