Determination of minor actinides fission cross sections by means of transfer reactions

B. Jurado (1) , M. Aiche (1) , G. Barreau (1) , S. Boyer (1) , S. Czajkowski (1) , D. Dassié (1) , C. Grosjean (1) , A. Guiral (1) , B. Haas (1) , B. Osmanov (1) , M. Petit (1) , E. Berthoumieux (2) , F. Gunsing (2) , L. Perrot (2) , C. Theisen (2) , E. Bauge , F. Michel-Sendis (3) , A. Billebaud (4) , J.N. Wilson (3) , I. Ahmad , J.P. Greene , R.V.F. Janssens

1 CENBG - Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan
2 DAPNIA - Département d'Astrophysique, de physique des Particules, de physique Nucléaire et de l'Instrumentation Associée
3 IPNO - Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay
4 LPSC - Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie

We present an original method that allows to determine neutron-induced cross sections of very short-lived minor actinides. This indirect method, based on the use of transfer reactions, has already been applied with success for the determination of the neutron-induced fission and capture cross section of 233Pa, a key nucleus in the 232Th-233U fuel cycle. A recent experiment using this technique has been performed to determine the neutron-induced fission cross sections of 242,243,244Cm and 241Am which are present in the nuclear waste of the current U-Pu fuel cycle. These cross sections are highly relevant for the design of reactors capable to incinerate minor actinides. The first results will be illustrated.

Keywords: fission; neutron-nucleus reactions; curium; americium; nuclei with mass number 220 or higher; radioactive waste disposal

Domains: Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]

B. Jurado, M. Aiche, G. Barreau, S. Boyer, S. Czajkowski, et al.. Determination of minor actinides fission cross sections by means of transfer reactions. 3rd International Workshop on Nuclear Fission and Fission-Product Spectroscopy, May 2005, Chateau de Cadarache, Saint Paul Lez Durance, France. pp.19-26, ⟨10.1063/1.2137222⟩. ⟨in2p3-00025204⟩