Abstract
Knowledge of actinides (n,f) fission process induced by neutron is of importance in the field of nuclear power and nuclear engineering, especially for reactor applications. In this work, fission characteristics of 238U(n,f) reaction induced by D-T neutron source were simulated with Geant4 code from multiple perspectives, including the fission production yields, total nubar, kinetic energy distribution, fission neutron spectrum and cumulative γ-ray spectrum of the fission products. The simulation results agree well with the experimental nuclear reaction data (EXFOR) and evaluated nuclear data (ENDF). Mainly, this work was to examine the rationality of the parametric nuclear fission model in Geant4 and to direct our future experimental measurements for the cumulative fission yields of 238U(n,f) reaction.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
T.R. Allen, D.C. Crawford, Lead-cooled fast reactor systems and the fuels and materials challenges. Sci. Technol. Nucl. Install, 2007, Article ID 97486. DOI:10.1155/2007/97486
J. Krepel, S. Pelloni, K. Mikityuk, Comparison of open and closed U–Pu equilibrium fuel cycles for Generation-IV fast reactors with the EQL3D procedure. Nucl. Eng. Des. 250, 392–402 (2012). doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2012.06.004
X. Cao, Z.X. He, C.R. Qing et al., Feasibility study of 233U production with accelerator driven sub-critical system (in Chinese). Sci. Sin.-Phys. Mech. Astron. 42, 437–444 (2012). doi:10.1360/132012-205
Nuclear Energy Agency Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Accelerator-driven Systems (ADS) and Fast Reactors (FR) in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles. http://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/reports/2002/nea3109-ads.pdf
The European Technical Working Group on ADS (2001). A European roadmap for developing accelerator driven systems (ADS) for nuclear waste incineration. http://www.oecd-nea.org/pt/docs/ADS%20ROADMAP.pdf
H. Nifenecker, S. David, J.M. Loiseaux et al., Basics of accelerator driven subcritical reactors. Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 463(3), 428–467 (2001). doi:10.1016/S0168-9002(01)00160-7
J.J.L. Yoonjo, P.S. Matthew, C.K. John et al., Thorium fuel cycle for a molten salt reactor: State of Missouri feasibility study. 121st ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, IN (2014). DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2828.6803
Transmutation of radioactive waste. http://www.oecd-nea.org/trw/
X.X. Chen, Z.D. Fan, Y. Wang et al., Experimental research of 238U fission reaction rate in China Experimental Fast Reactor. Atom. Energy Sci. Technol. 47, 120–122 (2013). doi:10.7538/yzk.2013.47.so.0120. (in Chinese)
W.M.D. Jesse, Gamma-ray spectroscopy by direct crystal diffraction. Annu. Rev. Nucl. Sci 8, 163–180 (1958). doi:10.1146/annurev.ns.08.120158.001115
T. Granier, R.O. Nelson, T. Ethvignot et al., Measurement of prompt X-rays in 238U (n, f) from threshold to 400 MeV. Eur. Phys. J. A 49, 114 (2013). doi:10.1140/epja/i2013-13114-8
CERN (2013) Geant4 Installation Guide: Building and installing Geant4 for users and developers. http://geant4.web.cern.ch/geant4/UserDocumentation/UsersGuides/InstallationGuide/fo/BookInstalGuide.pdf
Physics Reference Manual (2012) http://geant4.web.cern.ch/geant4/UserDocumentation/UsersGuides/PhysicsReferenceManual/BackupVersions/V9.6/fo/PhysicsReferenceManual.pdf
X. Qin, R. Zhou, J.F. Han et al., GEANT4 simulation of the characteristic gamma-ray spectrum of TNT under soil induced by DT Neutrons. Nucl. Sci. Tech. 26(1), 42–47 (2015). doi:10.13538/j.1001-8042/nst.26.010501
Z. Wei, Z.E. Yao, C.L. Lan et al., Monte Carlo simulation of fission yields, kinetic energy, fission neutron spectrum and decay γ-ray spectrum for 232Th(n, f) reaction induced by 3H(d, n)4He neutron source. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 305(2), 455–462 (2015). doi:10.1007/s10967-014-3910-7
D.J. Gorman, R.H. Tomlinson, Cumulative yields in the 14-MeV neutron fission of 238U. Can. J. Chem. 46, 1663–1672 (1968)
L.H. Gevaert, R.E. Jerv, H.D. Sharma, Cumulative yields in the 14 MeV neutron fission of 232Th and 238U in the symmetric region. Can. J. Chem. 48, 641–651 (1970)
W.X. Li, T.Y. Sun, X.H. Sun, et al. Charge distribution in the fission of 238U by 14.7 MeV neutron. Nucl. Chem. Radiochem. 2, 9–16. (in Chinese)
C. Chung, M.Y. Woo, Fission product yields in the fast-neutron fission of 238U. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 109, 117–131 (1987)
N. Gharibyan, K.J. Moody, J.D. Despotopulos, First fission yield measurements at the National Ignition Facility: 14-MeV neutron fission of 238U. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 303(2), 1335–1338 (2014). doi:10.1007/s10967-014-3474-6
E. Dobreva, N. Nenoff, Yields of fission products with masses A = 131 to 135 for the fast neutron induced fission of U-238. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 81(1), 29–36 (1984)
H. Naik, S. Mukerji, R. Crasta et al., Measurement of fission product yields in the quasi-mono-energetic neutron-induced fission of 238U. Nucl. Phys. A 941, 16–37 (2015). doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2015.05.006
J. Laurec, A. Adam, T. de et al., Fission product yields of 233U, 235U, 238U and 239Pu in fields of thermal neutrons, fission neutrons and 14.7-MeV neutrons. Nucl. Data Sheets 111, 2965–2980 (2010). doi:10.1016/j.nds.2010.11.004
H.D. Selby, M.R. Mac Innes, D.W. Barr et al., Fission product data measured at Los Alamos for fission spectrum and thermal neutrons on 239Pu, 235U, 238U. Nucl. Data Sheets 111, 2891–2922 (2010). doi:10.1016/j.nds.2010.11.002
M. Mac Innes, M.B. Chadwick, T. Kawano. Fission product yields for 14 MeV neutrons on 235U, 238U and 239Pu. Nucl. Data Sheets 112, 3135–3152 (2011). doi:10.1016/j.nds.2011.11.009
T. Ethvignot, T. Granier, P. Casoli, et al. Experimental studies of prompt neutron and photon emission in intermediate energy neutron-induced fission, Fission & Properties of Neutron-rich Nuclei, 2003:418-425. DOI: 10.1142/9789812705211_0060
ENDF: Evaluated Nuclear Data File. https://www-nds.iaea.org/exfor/endf.htm
IAEA-EXFOR Database. https://www-nds.iaea.org/exfor/exfor.htm
Z.E. Yao, W.M. Yue, P. Luo et al., Neutron yield, energy spectrum and angular distribution of accelerator-based T(d, n) 4He reaction neutron source for thick target. Atom. Energy Sci. Technol 42(5), 400–403 (2008)
K. Hirabayashi, T. Nishizawa, H. Uehara, Measurement of neutron yields from thick Al and SUS304 targets bombarded by 5-MeV and 9-MeV deuterons. Prog. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 3, 60–64 (2012)
P. Moller, D.G. Madland, A.J. Sierk et al., Nuclear fission modes and fragment mass asymmetries in a five-dimensional deformation space. Nature 409(6822), 785–790 (2001). doi:10.1038/35057204
X.J. Sun, C.G. Yu, N. Wang, Pre-neutron-emission mass distributions for low-energy neutron-induced actinide fission. Phys. Rev. C 85, 014613 (2012). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.85.014613
F. Manero, V.A. Konshin, Status of the energy dependent nu-values for the heavy isotopes (Z > 90) from thermal to 15 MeV and nu-values for spontaneous fission. At. Energy Rev 10(4), 637–756 (1972)
Interactive chart of nuclides. http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/chart/
Z. Li, A.Z. Cui, D.M. Liu et al., Precise determination of yields of 95Zr, 140Ba and 147Nd (in Chinese). J. Nucl. Radiochem. 17(2), 65–72 (1995)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21327801).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lan, CL., Peng, M., Zhang, Y. et al. Geant4 simulation of 238U(n,f) reaction induced by D-T neutron source. NUCL SCI TECH 28, 8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-016-0158-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-016-0158-7