Measurement of the ^233Pa(n,f) cross section up to E_n=8.5 MeV
Abstract
In recent years there has been an increased interest in the thorium fuel cycle. A crucial point in the design and development of new advanced reactor concepts is the availability of accurate neutron reaction data. The isotope ^233Pa (t_1/2=27 d) plays an important role in the thorium fuel cycle, but its fission cross section is not well known. The ENDF/B-VI and JENDL-3.3 evaluations of the reaction differ by about a factor of two for the above threshold cross section, while the required accuracy is 20% for fast systems. In order to solve the existing discrepancies, the ^233Pa(n,f) reaction cross section was measured with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons from 1.0 to 8.5 MeV. Additionally, model calculations of the reaction were carried out using the statistical model code STATIS.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Nuclear Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..DNP.JE013T