Photonuclear cross sections of Pu-239 using neutron capture gamma rays, near threshold

The photofission and photoneutron cross sections of Pu-239 have been measured by using monochromatic and discrete photons produced by thermal neutron capture gamma rays in several targets placed at the core of the IEA-R1 reactor in the energy interval from 5.43 MeV to 9.72 MeV. Analysing the photofission and photoneutron data we have observed similarities between the cross sections obtained for Pu-239 in comparison with the data obtained by other authors. From the photofission cross sections obtained and according to the liquid drop model, the height of the simple fission barrier was determined: F.B. = (5.7 ± 0.2) MeV. The relative fissionability to U-238 was also determined and shown to be energy independent: F.R. = (3.32 ± 0.41). For the competition between the photoneutron and the photofission emission (Γn/Γf) a constant value was found: (0.44 ± 0.05). By using this result the following nuclear temperature for Pu-239 was determined on basis of Nuclear Constant Temperature model of level density: T = (0.49 ± 0.05) MeV. The total photoabsorption cross sections were calculated as well as the photofission branching ratio (Γf/ΓA), or fission probability Pf. A constant value was also found: Pf = (0.70 ± 0.06).

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