Inelastic neutron scattering and prompt fission neutron spectra for Np

The secondary neutron spectra (inelastic, elastic, fission) for ²³⁷Np were measured by the neutron time of flight spectrometer of the IPPE at the incident energy range 1–2.5 MeV. The solid tritium target was used as a neutron source. The neptunium oxide (189 g) packed in the low mass stainless steel container was used as a scattering sample. The neutron background due to scattering on the target environment and tritium into the target backing was measured and was calculated with the appropriate model of the neutron source. The data were corrected for neutron background, the scattering on the oxygen and iron nuclei, and the effect of the finite sample size. The fission neutron spectra were measured, evaluated and subtracted from the emission neutron spectra to estimate inelastic neutron spectra and cross-sections. The experimental results were compared with ENDF/B-VI, BROND-2, JENDL-3 neutron data libraries.     

Sources: A code for calculating (alpha,n), spontaneous fission,and delayed neutron sources and spectra

SOURCES is a computer code that determines neutron production rates and spectra from (alpha, n) reactions, spontaneous fission, and delayed neutron emission due to the decay of radionuclides in homogeneous media, interface problems, and three-region interface problems. The code is also capable of calculating the neutron production rates due to (alpha, n) reactions induced by a monoenergetic beam of alpha particles incident on a slab of target material. The (alpha, n) spectra are calculated using an assumed isotropic angular distribution in the center-of-mass system with a library of 107 nuclide decay alpha-particle spectra, 24 sets of measured and/or evaluated (alpha, n) cross sections and product nuclide level branching fractions, and functional alpha particle stopping cross sections for Z < 106. Spontaneous fission sources and spectra are calculated with evaluated half-life, spontaneous fission branching, and Watt spectrum parameters for 44 actinides. The delayed neutron spectra are taken from an evaluated library of 105 precursors. The code outputs the magnitude and spectra of the resultant neutron sources. It also provides an analysis of the contributions to that source by each nuclide in the problem.     

Integral testing of Np cross-sections in GCFR spectra

Integral measurements of ²³⁷Np capture and fission rates have been carried out relative to the ²³⁹Pu fission rate in two GCFR lattices with different neutron spectra. The results have been compared with calculated values based, respectively, on ENDF/B-IV and FGL5 cross-sections. Both data sets predicted the measured fission ratios correctly within the experimental errors of ±2% but, in the case of the ratio of ²³⁷Np capture to ²³⁹Pu fission, the calculated ratios differed from the measured values by about 10% for both sets.     

强中子场裂变产物中子核反应网络方程研究

本文建立了考虑中子参加反应的裂变产物中子反应及衰变的网络方程,选用求解一阶线性刚性微分方程组的Gear方法,开发了可计算任意裂变产物核数量在不同中子场强度和中子谱下随时间变化的核反应网络方程计算系统FIRENEQ,并配套了裂变产物产额和衰变数据库FPYDDL及裂变产物核中子反应截面数据库FPNCDL。检验结果表明,计算结果正确,程序可靠。利用该程序系统,研究了裂变产物核数量在不同中子场、不同诱发中子能量下随时间的变化。     

IHNI-1中子束快中子注量率测量

为检验和确定用于硼中子俘获治疗(BNCT)的医院中子照射器(IHNI-1)的快中子污染源项,设计了用于快中子注量率测量的包硼~(235)U裂变电离室。利用MCNP程序对电离室的注量响应进行优化设计,计算包裹不同厚度硼壳时电离室的注量响应曲线,最终选择35mm厚B4C壳作为低能中子屏蔽层。利用该电离室测量IHNI-1热中子和超热中子束的快中子注量率,并与模拟计算值比较。结果显示,实测的中子束比模拟计算结果具有更多的快中子成分,低于国际原子能机构(IAEA)推荐的目标值。     

启明星1#次临界装置的裂变率分布

启明星1#次临界装置是我国为开展加速器驱动的次临界系统(ADS)研究而建立的国际上第1个具有快-热耦合结构的次临界反应堆实验装置。启明星1#次临界装置在确定的装载下、由不同能量的外中子源作用时,利用MCNP程序分别对装置快中子能谱区、热中子能谱区燃料元件的径向及轴向裂变率分布进行模拟计算,所使用外中子源的中子能量分别为2.5、5、14MeV。计算结果表明:在外中子源源强相同的情况下,源中子能量越高,裂变率越大;在源中子能量相同的情况下,次临界反应堆的轴向裂变率分布为中间高、两端低,径向裂变率分布在快中子能谱区先减小后增大,而热中子能谱区则是先增大后减小,然后,随着接近反射层又逐渐增大。该裂变率分布计算结果为后续实验测量和探测器布置提供了参考。     

Prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectrum evaluations for n+238U reaction

The prompt fission neutron multiplicity and spectra for n+²³⁸U reaction are calculated using an improved Los Alamos model which includes the linear relation between the average prompt gamma ray energy and the prompt neutron multiplicity and also the average fission fragment kinetic energy dependence on the incident neutron energy. The coefficients describing the quadratic variation of the fission fragment kinetic energy versus the incident energy are obtained by extrapolation of the data and procedure used for n+²³⁵U reaction. The inverse process compound nucleus cross-section of the fissioning nucleus is calculated using the coupled channel method. In the incident energy range where only the first fission chance is involved the comparison of present spectrum evaluation with spectrum calculation using multi-modal model is made too. The calculated prompt neutron multiplicity and spectra of ²³⁸U neutron induced fission are in good agreement with the experimental data for the entire incident energy range required in evaluations, proving the validity of the used procedure.     

Analysis of Neutron and Secondary Gamma-Ray Transport in Air-Over-Ground Geometry by PALLAS-2DCY-FC Code

Comparisons are made between PALLAS calculated with meaured neutron and γ-ray doses above the ground in an air-ground medium for HENRE accelerator and BREN reactor, yielding good agreements except for a 8.23-m height of HENRE source, in which the calculation overestimates the neutron dose by a factor of 1.5 due to the use of a rough angular quadrature set. Disregard of the ground results in a decrease by a factor of 2 in both neutron and γ-ray doses compared with those for the presence of the ground, while for an infinite-air medium both these doses increase with distances from the source, which indicates that the ground should not be. ignored in the neutron and secondary p-ray transport calculation. For assumed neutron skyshine calculations disregard of the ground results in a decrease in the neutron dose by a factor of 1.5 and 1.7 and also in the secondary γ-ray dose by a factor of 1.35 and 3~5 respectively for a 14-MeV source and a fission source. In addition to the importance of inclusion of the ground in neutron skyshine calculations, an additional essential factor is the secondary γ-ray production due to neutron inelastic scattering interaction with nitrogen for the 14-MeV source, or the one due to neutron capture interactions in both ground and air for the fission source.     

A digital spectrometer approach to obtaining multiple time-resolved gamma-ray spectra for pulsed spectroscopy

Neutron-induced gamma-ray emission and its detection using a pulsed neutron generator system is an established analytical technique for quantitative multi-element analysis. Traditional gamma-ray spectrometers used for this type of analysis are normally operated either in coincidence mode - for counting prompt gamma-rays following inelastic neutron scattering (INS) events when the neutron generator is ON, or in anti-coincidence mode - for counting prompt gamma-rays from thermal neutron capture (TNC) processes when the neutron generator is OFF. We have developed a digital gamma-ray spectrometer for concurrently measuring both the INS and TNC gamma-rays using a 14 MeV pulsed neutron generator. The spectrometer separates the gamma-ray counts into two independent spectra together with two separate sets of counting statistics based on the external gate level. Because the TNC gamma-ray yields are time dependent, additional accuracy in analyzing the data can be obtained by acquiring multiple time-resolved gamma-ray spectra at finer time intervals than simply ON or OFF. For that purpose we are developing a multi-gating system that will allow gamma-ray spectra to be acquired concurrently in real time with up to 16 time slots. The conceptual system design is presented, especially focusing on considerations for tracking counting statistics in multiple time slots and on the placement of pulse heights into multiple spectra in real time.     

脉冲中子-裂变中子铀矿测井技术的蒙特卡罗模拟

脉冲中子-裂变中子铀矿测井方法（PNFN）是采用脉冲式中子源,利用-3He管中子探测器记录瞬发裂变超热中子或缓发裂变热中子,得到地层中铀矿含量信息的测井方法。利用MCNP程序模拟了不同铀含量、不同地层孔隙度地层条件下PNFN的响应,分析了瞬发裂变超热中子和缓发裂变热中子与地层铀含量和孔隙度的关系。结果表明,地层孔隙度对利用PNFN确定地层铀含量有影响,孔隙度越大,利用裂变中子直接计算得到的地层铀含量比真实含量越小。利用瞬发裂变超热中子或热中子时间衰减谱计算得到地层宏观俘获截面,对裂变中子进行校正,可以有效提高地层铀含量计算结果的准确度。     

Measurements of keV-neutron capture cross sections and capture gamma-ray spectra of 105Pd

The neutron capture cross sections and capture gamma-ray spectra of ¹⁰⁵Pd were measured in the region from 15 to 100 keV and at 585 keV. A neutron time-of-flight method was utilised with an anti-Compton NaI(Tl) spectrometer and a 1.5-ns pulsed neutron source by the ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be reaction. The capture yields were obtained by applying a pulse-height weighting technique to the observed net capture gamma-ray pulse-height spectra. The capture cross sections of ¹⁰⁵Pd were derived with errors less than 5%, using the standard capture cross sections of ¹⁹⁷Au. The evaluated capture cross sections of JENDL-4.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1 were compared with the present results. The evaluations of JENDL-4.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1 were larger than the present results by 3%–15% in the region from 15 to 100 keV and at 585 keV. The capture gamma-ray spectra of ¹⁰⁵Pd were also derived by unfolding the observed net capture gamma-ray pulse-height spectra. The multiplicities of capture gamma rays of ¹⁰⁵Pd were obtained from the capture gamma-ray spectra.     

Prompt fission neutron spectrum calculations for n+238U reaction using the multi-modal model

The prompt fission neutron spectra for the neutron induced fission of ²³⁸U are calculated in the incident energy range where only the first fission chance is involved using the multi-modal fission theory. The partial spectra of each fission mode are calculated on the basis of Los Alamos model and the total spectrum is calculated by superposition of partial spectra weighted with the respective probability of occurrence. The total fission spectra obtained in this manner are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Research-reactor neutron fields for calibrating in-reactor detectors in nuclear power plants

The neutron spectra of research and power reactors are compared. The spectra were measured by the neutron-activation method and calculated using the KASKAD computer code. The a priori spectrum in the calculation was constructed as a superposition of physically validated spectra. A method of calibrating in-reactor detectors in nuclear power plants on the basis of the sensitivity to the ²³⁵U fission rate in 1 g of uranium using the neutron fields of research reactors is proposed. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 100, No. 2, pp. 97–107, February, 2006.     

Preliminary spectrum shifter design for intermediate energy nuclear data benchmark experiments with DT neutrons

Integral benchmark experiments with DT neutrons are not always sufficient for nuclear data benchmarking in the MeV region, below 10 MeV. A neutron spectrum shifter, which will be placed between a sample and a DT neutron source, is effective to moderate DT neutrons incident to the sample. In order to estimate effects of the spectrum shifter, the ratio of the contribution of 14 MeV neutrons in the leakage neutron and gamma-ray spectra was calculated with MCNP-4C for an experimental configuration at FNS of JAEA, Japan. The calculations were carried out for a Li₂TiO₃ sample with a Be, D₂O, or ⁷LiD spectrum shifter. It was found out that the Be shifter was superior to others and the Be shifter was effective to decrease the contribution of 14 MeV neutrons especially for secondary gamma-ray spectrum measurements.     

Generation and validation of ORIGEN-S libraries for depletion and transmutation calculations based on JEF2.2 and EAF3 basic data

The data libraries for light elements, actinides and fission products of the ORIGEN-S code for depletion and transmutation calculations in the SCALE4.1 computer code system have been updated with respect to cross-section data, radioactive-decay data and fission-product yield data using JEF2.2 as the basic data source and EAF3 as an additional source. This required the fission-product library to be extended with 201 new fission-product nuclides or isomeric states. The effect of the update of different quantities involved is evaluated with a burn-up benchmark. When ORIGEN-S is used as a stand-alone code, i.e. without regular update of cross-sections of the major nuclides due to changes in the neutron spectrum during burn-up, the results show appreciable differences in actinide and fission-product densities due to the cross-section update. The effects of updates of decay data and fission-product yields are generally small, but with noticeable exceptions. The update of fission and capture reaction energies gives a small but systematic change in actinide and fission-product concentration. The new ORIGEN-S libraries have also been converted for use with the SCALE4.2 package.     

聚变-裂变混合堆外中子源效应

聚变-裂变混合堆(FFHR)作为聚变驱动次临界系统(FDS),具有良好的物理性能,能够实现产能、氚增殖、嬗变核废料等功能。采用COUPLE程序研究了水冷混合堆包层的铀水比和中子倍增剂对中子源效率的影响。结果表明:包层能谱越硬,外中子源效率越高;适当加入中子倍增剂Be可使外中子源效率增加。研究结果对进一步改进聚变-裂变混合堆的概念设计具有一定的指导意义。     

252Cf自发裂变谱形对中子反射实验数值模拟的影响

针对裂变源中子反射实验中涉及到的中子源能谱问题,选取两套用公式拟合、被普遍认可的252Cf自发裂变能谱,分别将其应用于该类实验的数值模拟中。对实验测点的中子注量及裂变反应率进行了对比研究,结果表明,相对于Maxwell谱,Watt谱能更好地与实验结果符合。     

基于D-T中子源的板状铌样品的评价数据基准检验实验

利用中国原子能科学研究院核数据国家重点实验室的脉冲化氘氚聚变中子源产生的145 MeV单能中子,通过飞行时间法,测量了5、10、15 cm厚度板状铌（Nb）样品在与60°和120°两个方向上的泄漏中子飞行时间谱。利用蒙特卡罗模拟软件MCNP 4C进行了泄漏中子飞行时间谱的模拟计算,分别获得了CENDL 31、ENDF/B Ⅷ0和JENDL 40 3个数据库中Nb评价数据的模拟结果。通过各数据库不同能区的模拟结果与实验结果的比值（C/E）,对3个数据库中93Nb与145 MeV中子作用的角分布和双微分截面等相关评价数据进行了检验,重点分析了CENDL 31库的数据。结果表明,CENDL 31数据库的模拟结果在弹性散射能区、非弹性散射能区以及(n,2n)反应能区与实验结果均存在一定的偏差。而JENDL 40数据库除在120°弹性散射能区有高估现象,其他能区的模拟结果与实验结果均符合较好。ENDF/B Ⅷ0数据库的模拟结果除在60°方向弹性散射峰偏低外,其他能量范围的模拟结果均高于实验。     

Optimization of neutron energy-group structure in thermal lattices using ultrafine bilinear adjoint function

To solve neutron transport equation in multigroup approach, in addition to weighting function and number of energy groups, proper selection of the group boundaries have high importance for the accuracy of the calculations. In the current paper, the bilinear combination of forward and adjoint neutron spectra is used for the optimization of 69 energy group structure of WIMSD5 lattice physics code. To remedy the energy self-shielding effect, homogeneous adjoint and forward B_N equations on an ultrafine energy group structure have been solved to obtain the ultrafine forward and adjoint spectra. The coarse group intervals are selected to have equal values of bilinear function in each energy interval. In order to verify the validity of the optimized structure, infinite multiplication factor and fission rate values are calculated using WIMSD5 code for two main types of thermal critical lattices: Mixed Oxide (MOX) and Uranium Oxide (UOX). A Comparison of the results with MCNP-4C code shows that the optimized 69 group structure improves the infinite multiplication factor and fission rate in the mentioned thermal lattices.     

Cross Section Assessment by Measurement of Time Dependent Neutron Spectra from Lithium Assemblies

Time dependent neutron spectra from lithium assemblies were measured to assess the neutron cross sections of ⁷Li in ENDF/B-IV, which is important nuclide for the D-T fusion reactor blanket material. Pulsed neutrons produced by D-D or D-T reaction were used to measure leakage neutron spectra from cubical lithium assemblies as a function of time by the use of NE213 liquid scintillator. Calculations of time dependent neutron spectra were carried out by the Monte Carlo code SIMON, which was prepared for this study. The group constants used in these calculations were processed from ENDF/B-IV data. The calculated and the measured neutron spectra were compared for the following three; a stationary spectrum, spectra at each time interval and decay curves for specified energy groups. Discrepancies between the measured and the calculated neutron spectra were found in these comparisons. In order to assure the cause of these discrepancies, some calculations were carried out with recently measured cross sections of inelastic scattering which excite 0.478 and 4.63 MeV level of ⁷Li. It was concluded that some of the neutron cross section data of ⁷Li in ENDF/B-IV should be ameliorated.