Measurement of the $^{241}$Am(n,2n) Reaction Cross Section with the Activation Technique

ORAL

Abstract

High-precision measurements of the $^{241}$Am(n,2n)$^{240}$Am reaction have been performed with neutron energies from 8.8 to 14.0 MeV. The monoenergetic neutron beams were produced via the $^{2}$H(d,n)$^{3}$He reaction using the 10 MV Tandem accelerator at TUNL. The radioactive targets consisted of 1mg highly-enriched $^{241}$Am sandwiched between four different thin monitor foils. They were irradiated with a neutron flux of 3x10$^{7}$ n cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. After each irradiation the induced activity in the targets and monitors was measured off-line with 60\% HPGe detectors. Our preliminary neutron induced cross sections will be compared with recent literature results and statistical model calculations using the GNASH and EMPIRE codes.

*Supported by the NNSA under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances Program through DOE Research grant \#DE-FG03-02NA00073.E and the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by LANL (W-7405-ENG-36) and LLNL (W-7405-ENG-48).

Authors

  • R. Macri

  • A.P. Tonchev

  • A. Crowell

  • B. Fallin

  • C. Howell

  • A. Hutcheson

  • W. Tornow

    • Duke and TUNL
  • J. Kelley

    • NCSU and TUNL
  • C. Angell

  • H. Karwowski

    • UNC and TUNL
  • R. Pedroni

    • NC A\&T and TUNL
  • J. Becker

  • D. Dashdorj

  • J. Wilhelmy

    • LLNL
  • E. Bond

  • J. Fitzpatrick

  • A. Slemmons

  • D. Vieira

    • LANL