Deducing the 237U Destruction Cross-sections Using the Surrogate Ratio Method

Résumé du livre

We have deduced the destruction cross section of {sup 237}U via the (n, {gamma}) and (n,2n) reactions over an equivalent neutron energy range of 0 to 20 MeV using a new form of the Surrogate Ratio method [1-4] . The relative fission and neutron-evaporation decay probabilities of excited {sup 238}U populated via the ({alpha}, {alpha}{prime}) inelastic scattering were measured using the silicon telescope array for reaction studies (STARS) coupled to the Livermore Berkeley array for collaborative experiments (LIBERACE). These relative probabilities were then combined with the {sup 237} U(n, f) cross section deduced by Burke et al., [4] to deduce the (n, {gamma}) and (n,2n) cross sections in a model independent fashion. These cross sections are then compared to the compound reaction cross section calculated using an optical model calculation tuned to reproduce scattering data in the transactinide region. Our results presented and the prospects for using this technique to deduce (n, x) cross sections on radioactive nuclei are discussed.