학술논문

Shedding light on the 239Pu fission source term with new high-precision experiments and advanced fission modeling
Document Type
article
Source
Frontiers in Physics, Vol 10 (2023)
Subject
239Pu
average prompt fission neutron multiplicity
prompt fission neutron spectrum
fission cross section
CGMF
Physics
QC1-999
Language
English
ISSN
2296-424X
Abstract
In the last decade, there has been a renaissance of fission research resulting in new high-precision experiments and advanced fission modeling. For instance, the Chi-Nu and CEA teams supplied, for the first time, the 239Pu prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) for broad ranges of incident and outgoing neutron energies. The CEA team also measured 239Pu average prompt neutron multiplicities, ν̄p, with lower statistical uncertainties and a technique significantly different than the one used in the past. The NIFFTE collaboration provided 239Pu(n,f)/235U(n,f) cross section shape ratios with uncertainties below 1% utilizing a novel detector type. Advanced fission event generators were developed, among them CGMF, FIFRELIN, FREYA, and GEF, which calculate post-scission fission observables in a correlated manner. These new experimental data and more consistent fission models change the evaluated PFNS, ν̄p, and (n,f) cross sections, some only modestly, compared to ENDF/B-VIII.0. In turn, the individual new nuclear data distinctly change simulated effective neutron multiplication factors of fast critical assemblies, but their combined impact is small, while affecting the prediction of LLNL pulsed sphere neutron leakage spectra and reaction rates only within experimental uncertainties. Also, the parameters obtained from fitting to ν̄p reproduce various post-scission fission observables within the uncertainties of experimental data. This indicates that new differential experiments and consistent fission modeling reduce compensating errors present in ENDF/B-VIII.0.