<Superscript>239</Superscript>Pu prompt fission neutron spectra

Calculations of ²³⁹Pu(n, F) prompt fission neutron spectra have been performed for neutron energy up to 20 MeV. The exclusive spectra of pre-fission neutron reactions (n, xnf) were calculated on the basis of the Hauser-Feshbach model simultaneously with the cross sections of (n, F) and (n, 2n) reactions. The spectra of neutrons emitted by fission fragments were approximated by a sum of two Watt distributions. The components of the prompt fission neutron spectra due to pre-fission neutrons are manifested in the prompt fission neutron spectra and the average neutron energy. A correlation is established between this effect in the contribution of emissive fission (n, xnf) in the fission cross-section of ²³⁹Pu(n, F) and ²³⁵U(n, F). It is shown that the ²³⁹Pu(n, F) prompt fission neutron spectra used in applied calculations do not correspond to the experimental differential data and the systematic regularities in the spectra and their average energy found for the most carefully studied nuclei ^235,238U and ²³²Th. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 103, No. 2, pp. 119–124, August, 2007.     

24.4KeV中子诱发^235U裂变的产额测量

一、前言 对~(235)U热中子裂变已经作了充分的研究,裂变产物的产额作了广泛的测量,并对实验数据进行了多次编评。但是对于其它单能中子诱发~(235)U裂变研究还远远不够,尤其是keV能区的中子更是如此。J.G.Cuninghame等测量了130-1700keV中子诱发~(235)U裂变中一些核素的产额。但是低于130keV中子诱发的裂变研究,文献中未见过报道。为了研究产额随中子能     

Study of the neutron multiplication effect in an active neutron method

The neutron multiplication effect appears when an item contains large amounts of nuclear material. The neutron multiplication effect in this paper means the effect of subsequent fission reactions which are caused by fission neutrons produced by interrogation neutrons from a neutron generator. The previous active neutron method could not distinguish between first-fission and subsequent-fission neutrons and might overestimate the amount of nuclear material. However, the neutron multiplication effect in the active neutron method has not been adequately investigated. We discuss the evaluation method of the multiplication effect in the fast neutron direct interrogation method, one of the active neutron methods, using simulations with the Monte Carlo code MVP and experiments involving uranium waste drums. The first-generation neutrons from an external neutron source generate fission neutrons called second-generation neutrons, the second-generation neutrons generate third-generation neutrons, and so on. This study supposes that the neutron multiplication effect is mainly caused by the third-generation neutrons under the condition that the fourth-generation neutrons are much fewer. This paper proposes a correction method for the neutron multiplication effect in the measured data.     

14.8 MeV中子诱发~(238)U裂变产物产额测量

裂变产物产额作为裂变过程的一个重要参数,其准确测量对有关裂变的很多方面都有重要意义。为了准确测量中子诱发~(238)U裂变产物产额,利用中国工程物理研究院PD-300加速器上的T(d,n)4He反应,产生14.8MeV的中子,诱发~(238)U裂变。辐照过程中,通过金硅面垒半导体探测器监测中子通量的变化。使用Al片作为监测片计算整个照射过程中样品的平均中子通量。辐照结束后,利用高纯锗(High-Purity Germanium,HPGe)探测器测得裂变产物特征γ射线计数,计算得到裂变产物的产额,使用MCNPX软件对中子的多次散射和自屏蔽效应进行修正,并通过计算得到样品和监测片的自吸收修正、中子通量波动因子。得到了95Zr、127Sb、140Ba、147Nd、131I、103Ru等长半衰期产物的累积产额值,并将结果与以前的文献值做了比对,研究结果有助于~(238)U裂变产物产额的分析和评价。     

EJ339A型液体闪烁探测系统光输出响应函数的理论模拟与实验研究

对液体闪烁探测器EJ339A中子与伽马辐射测量问题,采用理论模拟与实验分析方法,结合自主设计搭建的基于Lab VIEW的数字化信号处理系统,分别完成22Na、133Ba、137Cs和60Co等4种不同能量的γ源等效电子能量测量与刻度。在此基础上,利用中子飞行时间测量原理,在不同时间窗下将锎(252Cf)源近似分化成若干个单能中子源,获得1.9 7.8 Me V范围内中子在探测器中的光输出响应函数。结果表明,理论模拟与实验测量值在低能段比较吻合,而高能段存在约7.3%的误差。     

Measurement of Double-Differential Neutron Emission Spectra from Uranium-238

We have performed the measurement of neutron emission spectra from ²³⁸U using a time-of-flight technique, and deduced the following data; (1) the prompt fission neutron spectra for 2 MeV incident neutrons at two emission angles of 90° and 135°, (2) the double-differential neutron emission cross sections at the incident energies of 1.2, 2.0, 4.2, 6.1 and 14.1 MeV. The emission spectra and the cross sections for scattering process were also deduced by subtracting the fission neutrons from the experimental spectra. The experimental results were compared with other experiments and the evaluations of JENDL-3 and ENDF/B-IV.

From the fission spectrum data ranging from 2 to 12 MeV, we have derived the best fit parameters for the Maxwellian and Watt type distribution functions. The experimental spectra are described with the Maxwellian spectrum with temperature of 1.24–1.26 MeV and are softer than both evaluations.

The spectra and cross sections for inelastic-scattering showed substantial disagreement with the evaluations concerning the discrete levels between 0.5 and 1.2 MeV, and continuum neutrons due to evaporation and pre-equilibrium processes. The secondary neutron angular distributions at 14 MeV incident energy were reproduced fairly well with the systematics.     

ST—451液体闪烁体中子探测器效率的测量

利用伴随粒子飞行时间方法，通过测量１４．７ＭｅＶ中子在聚乙烯和碳样品上的次级中子谱，得到了在０．９９－１４．７ＭｅＶ能量范围内ＳＴ－４５１液体闪烁体中子探测器的探测效率值，其总误差＜４．７％，其中统计误差＜３．５％。     

Measurements of Double-Differential Neutron Emission Cross Sections of 6Li, 7Li and 9Be for 11.5 MeV and 18.0 MeV Neutrons

Double-differential neutron emission cross sections (DDXs) of ⁶Li, ⁷Li and ⁹Be were measured for 18.0 MeV and 11.5 MeV incident neutrons produced by the T(d, n) and ¹⁵N(d, n) reactions respectively, using the Tohoku University Dynamitron time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometer. The data were obtained at 13 laboratory angles, and angular-differential cross sections (ADXs) of elastic and inelastic scattering neutrons were derived from the DDXs. For 11.5 MeV neutrons, we obtained the neutron emission spectra over the secondary neutron energies by newly employing the double TOF method as well as the conventional one. In the measurements at 18.0 MeV, we achieved better energy resolution than in our previous studies by using a neutron detector that has a larger solid angle and a thinner tritium target. The experimental results of DDXs and ADXs were compared with our previous results and the evaluated data given in JENDL-3.2, JENDL Fusion File and ENDF/B-VI. It is found that the JENDL data reproduce the experimental ones very well.     

Ge(Li)探测器测定14MeV中子引起~(238)U裂变中稀土核素的裂变产额

在核化学研究中,对稀土核素生成截面的资料是非常感兴趣的。因为在各种能量的轻粒子引起重核的裂变,或者在重离子引起的核反应中,稀土核素都构成了核反应产物中相当大的一部分。此外,处于大的核形变区的稀土核远离任何满核子壳层,因此测量稀土核的反应截面能够获得不受壳效应影响的核反应信息。     

MC法模拟不同中子源激励铀材料中子和γ飞行时间谱

为探索中子源激励探测铀材料应用技术,基于Geant4平台建立了中子源激励铀材料模拟中子和γ飞行时间谱的数学模型,模拟计算了利用不同中子源激励铀材料、使用不同探测器计数的中子和γ飞行时间谱,结果与已有相应实验谱特征相符。模拟结果表明:D-D和~(252)Cf源激励得到的中子和γ飞行时间谱有明显差异;在相同激励源和测量几何条件下,使用液体闪烁体探测器和塑料闪烁体探测器记录到的中子和γ飞行时间谱基本相同。本文结果可为外中子源激励探测铀材料技术研究提供参考。     

裂变堆中子转换成14MeV中子的研究进展

评述了裂变反应堆中子转换为１４ＭｅＶ中子的研究进展，讨论了核反应及转换器的结构。     

裂变率测量中的杂质影响及其消除方法

核裂变法是通过测量中子进行裂变率测量的重要方法．常用于热中子测量的裂变室有２３５Ｕ裂变室和２３９Ｐｕ裂变室，快中子测量可以用２３８Ｕ、２３２Ｔｈ和２３７Ｎｐ等裂变室．通常用于裂变室的可裂变核素是采用同位素分离方法或人工方法得到的，其中含有少量其他核素杂质．实验测量表明，少量能发生热裂变的杂质对快中子的测量有很大影响。利用热裂变修正方法和裂变室包镉方法可以消除这种影响。     

Development of an improved method for calculating the effective delayed neutron fraction of a core using a structure with only a few collapsed energy groups

In this study, an improved method for calculating the effective delayed neutron fraction of a core with a few collapsed energy groups has been developed. To accurately calculate the effective delayed neutron fraction of a core using the conventional method, a structure with several energy groups is needed for the fast energy region in order to reflect the difference in the fission spectra for prompt fission neutrons and delayed neutrons. On the other hand, a structure with only a few energy groups is needed for the criticality evaluation. Thus, the calculation cost increases for the effective delayed neutron fraction calculations owing to the need for a large number of energy groups. To solve this problem, in the present study, the error mechanism for the effective delayed neutron fraction calculation using a structure with only a few energy groups was studied, and it was found that the error results from the collapse of the fission spectra after the cell calculations without adjoint flux weighting. In addition, an improved method for the collapse fission spectra with an adjoint flux obtained by one-point calculation was developed. Using the proposed method, the effective delayed neutron fraction can be estimated with sufficient accuracy using a structure consisting of only a few collapsed energy groups. This result will contribute to reducing the calculation cost and/or improving the accuracy of effective delayed neutron fraction calculations.     

裂变碎片核发射中子能谱及角分布的模拟计算

采用蒙特卡罗方法研究²⁵²Cf自发二分裂变过程中裂变碎片核发射的中子能谱和中子角分布。文中给出了模拟计算的条件、步骤和模拟结果,详细分析了实际测量中²⁵²Cf自发二分裂变碎片核发射的中子能谱之间的相互干扰。该模拟分析与测量特定裂变碎片核的发射中子谱的实验研究密切配合,对相关实验具有指导性参考价值。     

重屏蔽条件下铀材料丰度的时间关联测量分析

针对高原子序数物质屏蔽下的铀材料,提出了一种新的技术方法来估算其铀丰度。首先,用D-T中子发生器的14 MeV中子对铀材料及屏蔽层进行主动质询,同时利用裂变射线探测器得到裂变中子/γ射线时间关联测量谱。然后,利用成像探测器建立的断层扫描图像得到铀材料及屏蔽层的几何和材料参数,并调用不同的铀丰度参数进行蒙特卡罗模拟计算,得到时间关联计算谱。最后,寻找与测量谱最匹配的模拟谱,确定铀材料的实际铀丰度。通过对比裂变射线探测器实验测量得到的所有裂变中子/γ射线时间关联谱,结果发现在各种屏蔽层状态下,高浓铀材料与贫化铀材料的时间关联谱均存在显著差异,可用时间关联谱作为区分不同铀材料丰度的重要技术特征;对于相同铀丰度和屏蔽状态下的铀材料,模拟谱与测量谱吻合较好,表明时间关联谱的模拟与实验分析可为铀材料铀丰度的估算提供技术基础。     

Estimation of Neutron Yield from Individual Fragment in Medium-Excitation Fission

A method of calculation is described to estimate the average number of neutrons emitted per fragment in medium-excitation fission from published experimental data on neutron emission in thermal-neutron induced fission, average total kinetic energy as a function of fragment mass and mass yield in low- and medium-excitation fission reactions. Use is made of a relation of fragment excitation energy with internal excitation and deformation energies, and the difference in kinetic energy between the fission reactions at two-excitation energies. A tentative calculation is made for the fission of ²³⁸U induced by 12 MeV protons. The results are in good agreement with experimental data.

The method developed in the present work may make it possible to predict the average number of neutrons emitted from individual fragment in medium-excitation fission which has not yet been measured experimentally.     

基于武器级铀的核弹头内部炸药探测的模拟研究

在军备控制核查技术领域,核弹头内部炸药的探测是一项重要的研究。本文利用GEANT4软件研究了基于武器级铀的核弹头(即铀弹头)内部炸药的被动探测法(利用铀弹头内部裂变中子作为中子源)的可行性,计算得到了从铀弹头中出射的γ射线能谱,能谱的形状与预期相符,但由于铀弹头内部裂变中子与炸药中~(14) N反应产生的特征γ光子的事例率太低,该方法可能不适用于铀弹头的现场测量。因此又利用GEANT4软件研究了铀弹头内部炸药的主动探测法(利用铀弹头外部的中子源对铀弹头进行辐照)的可行性。研究结果表明,主动探测法可在1h内实现对铀弹头内部炸药中~(14) N的探测和确认,进而能为判定铀弹头内部是否含有炸药提供重要依据。     

Delayed-gamma signature calculation for neutron-induced fission and activation using MCNPX. Part II: Simulations

In Part I, we presented the theory for the MCNPX Monte Carlo delayed-gamma emission feature. This feature permits the automated execution of radiation transport simulations of delayed-gamma emission spectra at discrete (line) energies created by the products of neutron fission and activation. To illustrate and help validate the new capability, calculated delayed-gamma emissions are presented in Part II for a model based on the Fisher and Engle (1964) experiment involving ²³⁵U irradiation by a Watt-fission neutron pulse. The simulated results are in good agreement with low-resolution measured data. Simulation results involving the Beddingfield and Cecil (1998) ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu thermal-neutron irradiation are also presented. The structure of the high-resolution emission signature obtained using MCNPX is seen to be in good agreement with their experimental counterparts. We also show an activation result for ⁶⁰Ni bombardment by 15-MeV neutrons. The simulation results help to illustrate the use and validity of the new MCNPX delayed-gamma capability.     

Evaluation of the fraction of delayed photoneutrons for TMSR-SF1

The 10 MW_(th) solid-fueled thorium molten salt reactor(TMSR-SF1) is a FLi Be salt-cooled pebble bed reactor to be deployed in 5–10 years, designed by the TMSR group. Due to a large amount of beryllium in the core, the photoneutrons are produced via(γ , n) reactions.Some of them are generated a long time after the fission event and therefore are considered as delayed neutrons. In this paper, we redefine the effective delayed neutrons into two fractions: the delayed fission neutron fraction and the delayed photoneutron fraction. With some reasonable assumptions, the inner product method and the k-ratio method are adopted for studying the effective delayed photoneutron fraction. In the k-ratio method, the Monte Carlo code MCNP6 is used to evaluate the effective photoneutron fraction as the ratio between the multiplication factors with and without contribution of the delayed neutrons and photoneutrons. In the inner product method, with the Monte Carlo and deterministic codes together, we use the adjoint neutron flux as a weighting function for the neutrons and photoneutrons generated in the core. Results of the two methods agree well with each other, but the k-ratio method requires much more computing time for the same precision.