Re-examining intermediate resonant structures in the 242Pu fission cross section

Abstract

The study of the 242Pu fission cross section has become more important since this isotope is present in Pressurized Water Reactor Uranium Oxide and Mixed Oxide fuel, as well as in fast neutron reactors fuel. This nucleus has been also selected for monitoring the high neutron flux RJH reactor (CEA-Cadarache). For all these reasons, the fission cross section structure of this fertile isotope, and especially its class-II states resonances were investigated in this work. Two class-II states have been identified in the Resolved Resonance Range (RRR) and their parameters have been supplied to the CONRAD code. 68 class- II states have been identified in the Unresolved Resonant Range (URR) and their parameters have been added in the TALYS code data library to reproduce as well as possible the experimental fission cross section. The methodology to identify and insert the class-II states in RRR and URR is described here.