Fission cross section of the 232Th(n,f)131Sb reaction induced by neutrons around 14 MeV

Abstract In order to make a more detailed study on the 232 Th fission process, the cross section of 232 Th(n,f) 131 Sb fission reaction induced by 14 MeV neutrons was measured precisely with the neutron activation method and off-line gamma ray spectrometric technique. Neutron flux was monitored on line using the accompanying α particle from T(d,n) 4 He reaction in the irradiation and neutron energies were given by the cross section ratio of 90 Zr(n,2 n) 89 Zr reaction to 93 Nb(n,2 n) 92 m Nb reaction. The experimentally determined cross sections were deduced to be 6.27±0.47, 6.19±0.54, 6.00±0.51 mb at 14.1±0.3, 14.5±0.3 and 14.8±0.3 MeV, respectively.