Study of the (n,γf) process on 239Pu

Abstract

In the neutron resonance range, fission cross section of 239Pu can be seen as a sum of the immediate (n,f) and the two-step (n,γf) fission reactions. In that case, five channel widths should be considered for a proper evaluation, those are: two opened fission channels for Jπ = 0+, one opened fission channel for Jπ = 1+ and two J-dependent for the (n,γf) reaction. The sizeable contribution of the (n,γf) process should have an impact on the determination of the capture and fission widths involved in the Reich-Moore approximation of the R-matrix theory. The present work aims to investigate this impact by using the CONRAD code and the Γγf available from literature. Prompt neutron multiplicity (νp) has been also reproduced including the contributions of the (n,γf) process.