MEASUREMENT OF PHOTOFISSION CROSS-SECTION OF238UUSING MICROTRON FACILITY

Abstract

Photofission cross-section of238U was measured using bremsstrahlung radiation energy 7.4–9.0 MeV with energy step of 0.4 MeV by employing Lexan polycarbonate film as solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD). The photon intensity from the Microtron accelerator at a distance of 15 cm from the bremsstrahlung converter (tantalum target) facility was estimated to be 1010photons/sec using the code EGS-4. In this paper, details of the fission fragment angular distribution measurements of238U target using Lexan polycarbonate have been discussed. The photofission cross-section was calculated using the angular distribution of fission fragments and the results were compared with those obtained using the code EMPIRE-II and various barrier parameters of the RIPL-1, RIPL-2 libraries and with the new analytical fission barrier formula based on the Hugenholtz–Van Hove theorem. The present experimental measurements were in good agreement with the results obtained from the Empire-II code predictions for potential parameter taken from RIPL-1 and a newly developed analytical fission barrier formula.