One of the major and most urgent challenges faced by humanity is the ongoing climate change, which is expected to substantially affect the lives of humans and other species on Earth during the next century. It is already established that humanity must take drastic and immediate actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to reduce the magnitude of the upcoming crisis. Studies showed that nuclear energy will have to take an essential role in combating climate change, as it is a ripe technology capable of delivering a clean and robust power supply on large scale. However, increasing the use of nuclear energy requires research in nuclear power technologies in order to improve aspects of safety, cost-efficiency, and nuclear waste management.
Neutron induced fission
The neutron induced fission cross section of the actinides is highly significant in the criticality and safety evaluation in a nuclear reactor, transmutation of nuclear waste and investigation of the nuclear fuel cycle. The design of new and innovative reactors, for safer and cleaner energy, also requires new and higher accuracy fission cross sections. The importance of accurate nuclear data is described in the High Priority Request List (HPRL) of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The HPRL identified several high priority neutron induced fission reaction cross sections where improved data is required. Some of those within the energy range of 1-2000 keV, such as 241,242mAm(n,f) and 244,245Cm(n,f). 241Am (t1/2 = 433 y) for example is one of the most important fissionable isotopes to be considered as a potential candidate for incineration/transmutation which represents about 1.8% of the actinide mass in spent fuel.
We are currently utilizing a dedicated detector for measurements of (n,f) cross sections at the energy range of 1-2000 keV. As a neutron source, we plan to use the 7Li(p,n) reaction at varying proton energies. The detector itself is made of two identical sections on both sides of the target, which allows back-to-back measurement of the fission products.
