共振区中子辐射俘获截面测量技术研究

<正>中子辐射俘获反应截面是一类重要的核数据。在共振区,中子核反应截面随中子能量变化剧烈,需要通过实验测量才能确定各种核反应截面。在中国散裂中子源反角白光中子束线上建立了一套C_6D_6探测器系统,用于开展共振区的中子辐射俘获反应截面测量。开展了~(197)Au、~(169)Tm和     

100eV以下~(169)Tm中子共振参数的测量与分析

本文介绍了在韩国浦项中子源上应用中子飞行时间方法进行的169 Tm的全截面穿透测量,发布了1组新的169 Tm透射率和全截面数据,并在此基础上介绍了应用SAMMY程序结合实际实验环境,对169 Tm在100eV以下能区的中子共振参数进行的分析和计算。结合此次计算结果及前人的169 Tm共振能区实验数据和评价结果,对169 Tm的100eV以下能区中子共振参数进行了评价和推荐,探索并总结了中子共振参数评价的基本方法和流程。     

锕系核裂变数据关键科学问题研究

正1概述本研究建立了用于中子俘获截面测量的C6D6探测系统,经过在中国散裂中子源上开展的首批物理实验测试,证明该系统能正常工作,获得了197Au和169Tm的初步结果。采用粒子能量速度关联技术和瞬发伽马符合技术分别对初级裂变产物粒子的质量和电荷进行了鉴别。完成了中子诱发235U裂变重点产额的评价以及燃耗计算灵敏度和不确定度对于裂     

裂变元素中子共振反应的裂变和俘获截面的相关分析

我们曾用多能级展开的Adler-Adler公式对裂变元素的中子共振反应(裂变或俘获)截面作过分析,求出裂变或俘获截面的共振参数。本工作是进一步对同一核素的裂变和俘获截面两组实验数据作相关分析,以求取同一核素两种截面相应的共振参数。     

基于加速器~7Li(p,n)反应的硼中子俘获治疗中子源的优化设计

7Li(p,n)反应以中子产额大、反应阈能低等优点成为硼中子俘获治疗加速器驱动中子源所用中子反应的候选类型之一。本文重点研究了该中子产生反应作为加速器驱动中子源的中子产额及其能谱特性,并对产生的高能中子束流进行慢化,使其满足BNCT治疗要求。首先采用蒙特卡罗程序MCNPX2.5.0模拟加速器7Li(p,n)反应过程,得到1.9 3.0 MeV能量入射质子的中子产额及其能谱,并详细研究了质子入射能量为2.5 MeV的最佳条件下产生的中子束流特性;进而提出中子束流的慢化设计方案,并对慢化所得超热中子束品质进行分析研究。模拟计算结果表明,10 mA流量的2.5 MeV能量入射质子所产生的中子束经过慢化处理后,可以很好地满足硼中子俘获治疗的中子束流要求。     

~(181)Ta中子俘获截面测量

用“瞬发γ射线法”,测量了10—100 keV能区~(181)Ta的中子俘获截面。选择~(197)Au的俘获截面作为标准。用~7Li(p,n)~7Be反应产生中子。俘获γ事件用二个Moxon-Rae探测器探测。测量结果与近期其他作者的数据作了比较。     

先进压水堆燃料组件计算不确定性分析

采用广义微扰理论,研究核数据不确定性对先进压水堆AP1000燃料组件宏观截面参数计算不确定性的贡献与影响机理。通过比较、分析不同因素对组件参数计算不确定性的贡献,给出组件宏观截面参数相关系数矩阵;采用敏感性分析方法及分步比较的思路研究在不同堆芯运行状态下核数据对AP1000燃料组件宏观参数计算不确定性贡献的机理。研究结果表明:核数据自身不确定性通过组件输运计算最终传递给宏观截面参数的不确定性是基本恒定的。其中,~(235)U平均裂变中子数反应、~(238)U辐射俘获反应、~(238)U共振非弹性散射反应及~1H共振弹性散射反应对组件宏观截面参数计算不确定性贡献尤为突出。同时,温度升高导致组件kinf及宏观截面参数计算不确定性增加;燃料富集度降低及可燃毒物的存在均使组件kinf计算不确定性增加;组件快群截面计算不确定性远大于热群截面计算不确定性。其中~(238)U辐射俘获反应、共振非弹性散射反应等截面信息应重点关注并且需要进一步评价和改进。     

重元素合成中s-过程重要反应~(95)Zr(n,γ)~(96)Zr的研究以及大立体角BGO探测阵列的研制

正近年来,稳定核中子俘获截面测量已经取得了大量实验数据,并已被应用到天体核合成网络计算。但中子俘获过程中还涉及了大量不稳定核素,此类核素的中子俘获截面还没有可靠实验数据。本工作为国家重点研发计划资助项目(2016YFA0400502),利用自主研发的碗形硅探测器阵列,测量了双中子转移反应90Zr(18O,16O)92Zr和92Zr(18O,16O)94Zr,进而采用中子辐射俘获间接测量方法——替代比率法推导出低能区的93Zr(n,γ)94Zr截面,与直接测量截面符合得很好,验证了替代比率法的可靠性。实验装置如图1所示。     

脉冲高度权重技术测量197Au中子俘获截面

脉冲高度权重技术是利用C_6D_6探测器测量中子俘获截面的一种数据处理方法。在中国散裂中子源(China Spallation Neutron Source,CSNS)的反角白光中子源(Back-n)靶站上,通过测量金靶(~(197)Au)的中子俘获截面,验证了该方法的可靠性。首先利用Geant4蒙特卡罗程序模拟给出了不同靶条件下的探测器效率,脉冲高度权重函数等基本项,使得加权后的探测器效率与γ能量成正比。然后通过实验测量了~(197)Au中子俘获截面。结果表明:测量获得的中子俘获截面数据和ENDF/B-VⅢ.0评价数据相符合,同时发现随着实验靶尺寸的不同和质子束功率的增加,会使得实验本底的扣除误差越来越大。     

基于150 MeV电子束的光中子特性模拟分析

高能中子源是研究高能太空宇宙射线中子对人体和电子仪器辐射损伤的必备装置,基于高能电子加速器的光中子源是目前能够提供较高能量白光中子的方式之一。本工作以清华大学先进加速器实验室的激光电子加速器束流参数为基础,借助Geant4对产生的光中子的能量特性、产额特性、角分布特性、时间特性进行了分析。模拟结果表明,Φ2 cm×2 cm的圆柱体Ta靶时,150 MeV电子束流可产生最高能量约为110 MeV、中子产额约为1.2×10~5n/10~7e-、出射时间在0~100 ns之间呈负指数分布的几乎各向同性的光中子。根据拟合的中子能量-出射时间离散指数函数,估算得到对产生的1~100MeV中子,在飞行距离为5m时中子飞行时间的时间分辨率好于2.23%。本工作为该加速器的光中子产生和实验测量工作提供了参考依据。     

γ全吸收型探测装置探测效率的实验与模拟

为精确测量keV能区中子俘获反应截面,中国原子能科学研究院核数据重点实验室基于中国散裂中子源反角白光中子源建成了国内首套γ全吸收型BaF₂探测装置。为获得重要的实验参数装置对γ射线的探测效率曲线,对单个BaF₂探测器模块能谱的测量数据与模拟结果进行比较。结果表明,测量¹³⁷Cs和⁶⁰Co源得到的实验结果与MCNP和GEANT4的模拟结果吻合较好,验证了模拟计算得到的探测效率曲线的可靠性,可用于中子俘获反应截面的在线测量。     

Simultaneous statistical analysis of large arrays of correlated neutron measurements

The problems due primarily to the limitations of modern computers, preventing adoption of modern methods for estimating neutron data in everyday practice and making it difficult to use the estimated data in applied programs, are discussed. Possible solutions of these problems are presented. Specifically, an identity transformation of the statistical functional to be minimized is found: this transformation makes it possible to avoid the construction, storage, and numerical inversion of superlarge covariation matrices of measurement uncertainties. The transformation makes it possible to perform statistical analysis of an arbitrarily large number of measurements. An efficient method of parameterization of the cross sections of neutron reactions at high neutron energy is proposed. The method is based on the use of the Adler-Adler resonance formula for fitting the cross sections. The parameters in the formula in this case do not have a clear physical interpretation. The method makes it possible to decrease substantially the volume of information to be stored in estimated data files in ENDF-6 format. For three cross sections (total, fission, and radiative capture), the proposed parameterization is universal, and it makes it possible to represent the cross section in a single manner from the thermal point up to an arbitrarily high neutron energy. The results of this work are illustrated for estimation of the cross section of the reaction²⁴¹Am (n,f). 1 figure, 1 table, 27 references. State Science Center of the Russian Federation—A. I. Leipunskii Physics and Power-Engineering Institute. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 88, No. 3, pp. 197–203, March, 2000.     

熔盐实验堆中燃料核素的灵敏度系数计算分析

以熔盐实验堆为模型,采用MCNP5和SCALE5.1中的TSUNAMI-3D-K5对燃料核素的灵敏度系数进行计算与分析。结果表明,灵敏度系数与核素在MSRE中的含量、位置和核素的中子反应截面有关,得到灵敏度系数最大的核素²³⁵U的宏观裂变截面和宏观俘获截面的灵敏度系数分别为0.267和0.110。MCNP5和TSUNAMI-3D-K5计算不同能区下²³²Th宏观总截面和俘获截面的灵敏度系数曲线一致,曲线在0.1 eV附近有一小峰,振荡区域同截面共振区范围相同。     

Measurement of keV-Neutron Capture Cross Section of 96Zr

The neutron capture cross section of ⁹⁶Zr at incident neutron energies from 15 to 100 keV has been measured by the time-of-flight method. Capture γ-rays were detected with an anti-Compton NaI(Tl) spectrometer, and the pulse-height weighting technique was applied to derive the neutron capture cross section. The present measurement provided the capture cross section as a function of incident neutron energy in the keV region. The results were compared with previous measurements and cross section data in the evaluated nuclear data libraries, JENDL-4.0, JENDL-3.3, ENDF/B-VII.0, and ENDF/B-VI.8. The present results revealed considerable underestimation of the evaluated cross sections in the high-energy region of 35–100 keV.     

Measurements of Neutron Capture Cross Section of 237Np for Fast Neutrons

The neutron capture cross section of ²³⁷Np has been measured for fast neutrons supplied at the center of the core in the Yayoi reactor. The activation method was used for the measurement, in which the amount of the product ²³⁸Np was determined by γ-ray spectroscopy using a Ge detector. The neutron flux at the center of the core calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation code MCNP was renormalized by using the activity of a gold activation foil irradiated simultaneously. The new convention is proposed in this paper to make possible a definite comparison of the integral measurement by the activation method using fast reactor neutrons with differential measurements using accelerator-based neutrons. “Representative neutron energy” is defined in the convention at which the cross section deduced by the activation measurement has a high sensitivity. The capture cross section of ²³⁷Np corresponding to the representative neutron energy was deduced as 0:80 ± 0:04b at 214 ± 9 keV from the measured reaction rate and the energy dependence of the cross section in the nuclear data library ENDF/B-VII.0. The deduced cross section of ²³⁷Np at the representative neutron energy agrees with the evaluated data of ENDF/B-VII.0, but is 15% higher than that of JENDL-3.3 and 13% higher than that of JENDL/AC-2008.     

235U快中子核反应截面协方差评价

本文基于最小二乘不确定度传递方法,建立²³⁵U中子裂变核反应截面模型依赖型与非模型依赖型协方差评价体系。通过针对实验测量较丰富的中子反应总截面、辐射俘获、(n,2n)等核反应实验数据不确定度源项分析,为协方差评价提供实验基础,并给出对应核反应截面的非模型依赖型协方差评价数据。通过开展快中子能区²³⁵U核反应理论模型参数灵敏度计算与分析,导出实验测量缺乏的核反应截面模型依赖型协方差评价数据。经上述系统评价,所得协方差数据与核反应截面中心值研究过程自洽、物理合理,并按国际标准ENDF-6格式输出,便于核工程用户使用。     

Thermal neutron cross section determination of short-to-medium lived nuclides using a 20 Ci Am–Be neutron source

While there are growing demands for the nuclear data at higher energy regions than keV for up-to-date scientific and technological development, accurate capture cross sections at thermal energy are still needed. The thermal neutron capture cross sections for the reactions ¹²⁷I(n,γ)¹²⁸I, ¹⁵²Sm(n,γ)¹⁵³Sm,¹⁵⁴Sm(n,γ)¹⁵⁵Sm, and ²³⁸U(n,γ)²³⁹U were determined by the method of foil activation using ⁵⁵Mn(n,γ)⁵⁶Mn as a reference reaction. The experimental samples with and without a Cd cover were irradiated in an isotropic neutron field of a 20 Ci ²⁴¹Am–Be neutron source facility. A high purity Ge detector was used to measure the induced gamma-rays from the samples and the monitor. The thermal neutron capture cross sections of the reactions ¹²⁷I(n,γ)¹²⁸I, ¹⁵²Sm(n,γ)¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁵⁴Sm(n,γ)¹⁵⁵Sm, and ²³⁸U(n,γ)²³⁹U were deduced from the analysis of obtained gamma-ray spectra. The thermal neutron capture cross section values for ¹²⁷I(n,γ)¹²⁸I, ¹⁵²Sm(n,γ)¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁵⁴Sm(n,γ)¹⁵⁵Sm, and ²³⁸U(n,γ)²³⁹U reactions are (5.93 ± 0.52), (207.3 ± 9.4), (7.7 ± 0.3), and (2.79 ± 0.09) barns respectively. The obtained results have been discussed and compared with the available experimental data and were found to be in agreement with each other.     

Application of BGO Scintillators to Absolute Measurement of Neutron Capture Cross Sections between 0.01 eV and 10 eV

Applying a total energy absorption γ-ray detector composed of 12 bricks (5 × 5 cm², 7.5 cm thick) of BGO scintillators, the absolute measurement of capture cross sections for Au and Sb has been made in an energy region between 0.01 and 10eV using the linac time-of-flight method. Incident thermal neutron flux was absolutely determined by using the BGO detection system with a Sm sample. To extend the neutron flux measurement from the thermal neutron region to higher neutron energies, the ¹⁰B(n, αγ) reaction was applied. Absolute capture yield for the relevant capture sample was obtained by the saturated capture yield at a large resonance of the sample.

Gold was selected to investigate the application of the BGO detection system to the absolute measurement of the capture cross sections, since the ¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ)¹⁹⁸ Au reaction cross section is a well known standard one. The result of the ¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ)¹⁹⁸ Au reaction cross section showed good agreement with the evaluated data in JENDL Dosimetry File and ENDF/B-VI. Then, the detection system was applied to the Sb(n, γ) cross section measurement. Antimony has a large scattering-to-capture cross section ratio comparing to that of gold. The result showed good agreement with the evaluated data in JENDL-3.2 and ENDF/B-VI.     

Measurement of thermal neutron and resonance integral cross sections of the reaction V(n,γ)V using a 20 Ci Am–Be isotopic neutron source

The thermal neutron capture cross section (σ_o) and the resonance integral (I_o) of the ⁵¹V(n,γ)⁵²V reaction were measured with an activation method to provide fundamental data for reactor calculation, activation analysis, and other theoretical and experimental uses concerning the interaction of neutron with matter. The vanadium and manganese samples were irradiated within and without a Cd shield case using a 20 Ci Am–Be neutron source. The activities of the samples were measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The thermal neutron capture cross section and the resonance integral were determined relative to the reference reaction ⁵⁵Mn(n,γ)⁵⁶Mn and the values obtained are 5.16 ± 0.19 barns and 2.53 ± 0.1 barns respectively. The previous measurements of the σ_o and I_o of the reaction ⁵¹V(n,γ)⁵²V were reviewed and the difference between the present values and the previous results were discussed.