12 research outputs found
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Preparation of radioactive rare earth targets for neutron capture study
The understanding of thc details of nucleosynthesis in stars remains a great challenge. Though the basic mechanisms governing the processes have been known since the pioneering work of Burbidge, Burbidge, Fowler and Hoyle (l), we are now evolving into a condition where we can ask more specific questions. Of particular interest are the dynamics of the s ('slow') process. In this process the general condition is one in which sequential neutron captures occur at time scales long compared with the beta decay half lives of the capturing nuclides. The nucleosynthesis period for C or Ne burning stellar shells is believed to be in the year to few year time frame (2). This means that radionuclides with similar half lives to this burning period serve as 'branch point' nuclides. That is, there will be a competition between a capture to the next heavier isotope and a beta decay to the element of nexl higher atomic number. By understanding the abundances of these competing reactions we can learn about the dynamics of the nucleosynthesis process in the stellar medium. Crucial to this understanding is that we have a knowledge of the underlying neutron reaction cross sections on these unstable nuclides in the relevant stellar energy regions (neutrons of 0.1-100 KeV). Tm (1.9 years) and ls'Sm (90 ycws) have decay properties that permit their handling in an open fume hood. These Iwo were therefore selected to be the first radionuclides for neutron capture study in what will be an ongoing effort
Energy dependence of fission product yields from 235
Under a joint collaboration between TUNL-LANL-LLNL, a set of absolute fission product yield measurements has been performed. The energy dependence of a number of cumulative fission product yields (FPY) have been measured using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams for three actinide targets, 235U, 238U and 239Pu, between 0.5 and 14.8 MeV. The FPYs were measured by a combination of fission counting using specially designed dual-fission chambers and γ-ray counting. Each dual-fission chamber is a back-to-back ionization chamber encasing an activation target in the center with thin deposits of the same target isotope in each chamber. This method allows for the direct measurement of the total number of fissions in the activation target with no reference to the fission cross-section, thus reducing uncertainties. γ-ray counting of the activation target was performed on well-shielded HPGe detectors over a period of two months post irradiation to properly identify fission products. Reported are absolute cumulative fission product yields for incident neutron energies of 0.5, 1.37, 2.4, 3.6, 4.6, 5.5, 7.5, 8.9 and 14.8 MeV. Preliminary results from thermal irradiations at the MIT research reactor will also be presented and compared to present data and evaluations. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Los Alamos National Security, LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and by Duke University and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory through NNSA Stewardship Science Academic Alliance grant No. DE-FG52-09NA29465, DE-FG52-09NA29448 and Office of Nuclear Physics Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER41033
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Detector for advanced neutron capture experiments at LANSCE
The Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) is a 159-element 4x barium fluoride array designed to study neutron capture on small quantities, 1 mg or less, of radioactive nuclides. It is being built on a 20 m neutron flight path which views the 'upper tier' water moderator at the Manuel J. Lujan Jr. Neutron Scattering Center at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The detector design is based on Monte Carlo calculations which have suggested ways to minimize backgrounds due to neutron scattering events. A data acquisition system based on fast transient digitizers is bcing implemente
Energy dependence of fission product yields from 235U, 238U, and 239Pu with monoenergetic neutrons between thermal and 14.8 MeV
Under a joint collaboration between TUNL-LANL-LLNL, a set of absolute fission product yield measurements has been performed. The energy dependence of a number of cumulative fission product yields (FPY) have been measured using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams for three actinide targets, 235U, 238U and 239Pu, between 0.5 and 14.8 MeV. The FPYs were measured by a combination of fission counting using specially designed dual-fission chambers and γ-ray counting. Each dual-fission chamber is a back-to-back ionization chamber encasing an activation target in the center with thin deposits of the same target isotope in each chamber. This method allows for the direct measurement of the total number of fissions in the activation target with no reference to the fission cross-section, thus reducing uncertainties. γ-ray counting of the activation target was performed on well-shielded HPGe detectors over a period of two months post irradiation to properly identify fission products. Reported are absolute cumulative fission product yields for incident neutron energies of 0.5, 1.37, 2.4, 3.6, 4.6, 5.5, 7.5, 8.9 and 14.8 MeV. Preliminary results from thermal irradiations at the MIT research reactor will also be presented and compared to present data and evaluations. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Los Alamos National Security, LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and by Duke University and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory through NNSA Stewardship Science Academic Alliance grant No. DE-FG52-09NA29465, DE-FG52-09NA29448 and Office of Nuclear Physics Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER41033
Energy dependence of fission product yields from
Under a joint collaboration between TUNL-LANL-LLNL, a set of absolute fission product yield measurements has been performed. The energy dependence of a number of cumulative fission product yields (FPY) have been measured using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams for three actinide targets, 235U, 238U and 239Pu, between 0.5 and 14.8 MeV. The FPYs were measured by a combination of fission counting using specially designed dual-fission chambers and γ-ray counting. Each dual-fission chamber is a back-to-back ionization chamber encasing an activation target in the center with thin deposits of the same target isotope in each chamber. This method allows for the direct measurement of the total number of fissions in the activation target with no reference to the fission cross-section, thus reducing uncertainties. γ-ray counting of the activation target was performed on well-shielded HPGe detectors over a period of two months post irradiation to properly identify fission products. Reported are absolute cumulative fission product yields for incident neutron energies of 0.5, 1.37, 2.4, 3.6, 4.6, 5.5, 7.5, 8.9 and 14.8 MeV. Preliminary results from thermal irradiations at the MIT research reactor will also be presented and compared to present data and evaluations. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Los Alamos National Security, LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and by Duke University and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory through NNSA Stewardship Science Academic Alliance grant No. DE-FG52-09NA29465, DE-FG52-09NA29448 and Office of Nuclear Physics Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER41033
Measurements of short-lived fission product yields using monoenergetic neutron and photon beams
A joint TUNL-LLNL-LANL collaboration was formed to measure the absolute fission product yields from the 235 U, 238 U, and 239 Pu isotopes. Our goal is to study the energy evolution of fission products using monoenergetic beams. In order to extend our successful fission product-yield studies to include products with shorter half-lives, a RApid Belt-driven Irradiated Target Transfer System, named RABITTS, was constructed. This system allows us to perform cyclic activation and quantify fission products with γ-ray spectroscopy using HPGe detectors. Both a 1 meter and 10 meter transfer system have been developed, with transit times of 0.4 and 1.1 seconds, respectively. Using these systems, we have measured sub-second half-lives. Our goal is to measure fission product yields from neutron-induced fission with En = 0.5 − 14.8 MeV and photofission with Eγ = 8 − 15 MeV. A detailed characterization of the system’s performance is presented, including preliminary fission product measurements, and the expected sensitivity
Measurements of short-lived fission product yields using monoenergetic neutron and photon beams
A joint TUNL-LLNL-LANL collaboration was formed to measure the absolute fission product yields from the 235 U, 238 U, and 239 Pu isotopes. Our goal is to study the energy evolution of fission products using monoenergetic beams. In order to extend our successful fission product-yield studies to include products with shorter half-lives, a RApid Belt-driven Irradiated Target Transfer System, named RABITTS, was constructed. This system allows us to perform cyclic activation and quantify fission products with γ-ray spectroscopy using HPGe detectors. Both a 1 meter and 10 meter transfer system have been developed, with transit times of 0.4 and 1.1 seconds, respectively. Using these systems, we have measured sub-second half-lives. Our goal is to measure fission product yields from neutron-induced fission with En = 0.5 − 14.8 MeV and photofission with Eγ = 8 − 15 MeV. A detailed characterization of the system’s performance is presented, including preliminary fission product measurements, and the expected sensitivity
Toward short-lived and energy-dependent fission product yields from neutron-induced fission
Fission product yields (FPYs) are an important source of information that are used for basic and applied physics. They are essential observables to address questions relevant to nucleosynthesis in the cosmos that created the elements from iron to uranium, for example, in energy generating processes from fission recycling in binary neutron star mergers; resolving the reactor neutrino anomaly; decay heat release in nuclear reactors; and many national security applications. While new applications will require accurate energy-dependent FPY data over a broad set of incident neutron energies, the current evaluated FPY data files contain only three energy points: thermal, fast, and 14-MeV incident energies.
Recent measurements using mono-energetic and pulsed neutron beams at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) tandem accelerator and employing a dual fission ionization chambers setup have produced self-consistent, high-precision data critical for testing fission models for the neutron-induced fission of the major actinide nuclei. This paper will present new campaign just beginning utilizing a RApid Belt-driven Irradiated Target Transfer System (RABITTS) to measure shorter-lived fission products and the time dependence of fission yields, expanding the measurements from cumulative towards independent fission yields