Determination of minor-actinides fission cross sections by means of the surrogate reaction method

The surrogate reaction method has been used to determine neutron-induced fission cross sections for the short-lived minor actinides 242,243 Cm and 241 Am. These cross sections are highly relevant for the design of fast reactors capable of incinerating minor actinides. Our results for the fission cross section of 242 Cm extend up to the onset of second-chance fission. None of the existing neutron-induced fission data for 242 Cm go as high in neutron energy. The latest direct neutron-induced measurement for the 243 Cm fission cross section is questioned by our results since there exist differences of more than 60% in the 0.7 to 7 MeV neutron energy range.