Determination Of Minor Actinides Fission Cross Sections By Means Of Transfer Reactions

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.