Absolute and relative surrogate measurements of the U236(n,f) cross section as a probe of angular momentum effects

Using both the absolute and relative surrogate techniques, the U236(n,f) cross section was deduced over an equivalent neutron energy range of 0 to 20 MeV. A 42 MeV He3 beam from the 88 Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to perform a (He3,α) pickup reaction on targets of U235 (Jπ=7/2-) and U238 (Jπ=0+) and the fission decay probabilities were determined. The U235(He3,αf) and U238(He3,αf) were surrogates for U233(n,f) and U236(n,f), respectively. The cross sections extracted using the surrogate method were compared to directly measured cross sections. The sensitivity of these cross sections to the Jπ-population distributions was explored. © 2007 The American Physical Society.