Measurement of the thermal neutron capture cross section and resonance integral of Am-241

Abstract

Measurements of the thermal neutron cross section and resonance integral for the reaction 241Am(n,γ) 241gAm have been performed at the IEA-R1 research reactor operating at 2 MW. A 4πβ-γ coincidence system applying the tracer technique has been used for measuring the activities. Irradiations with and without cadmium cover were performed and the neutron transmission through this cover was calculated by the Monte Carlo method. High resolution γ-ray spectrometry measurements were undertaken in order to check the consistency of the results and to measure activities of the neutron fluence monitor foils. Covariance analysis has been applied to all uncertainties involved. The thermal neutron cross section for 2200 m/s neutrons and the resonance integral resulted (602±9)b and (1665±91)b, respectively. These results are discussed and compared with previous measurements.