Energy dependence of the prompt gamma-ray emission from the (d,p)-induced fission of U-234 and Pu-240

Abstract

Prompt-fission γ rays are responsible for approximately 5% of the total energy released in fission, and therefore important to understand when modeling nuclear reactors. In this work we present prompt γ -ray emission characteristics in fission as a function of the nuclear excitation energy of the fissioning system. Emitted γ -ray spectra were measured, and γ -ray multiplicities and average and total γ energies per fission were determined for the 233 U ( d , p f ) reaction for excitation energies between 4.8 and 10 MeV, and for the 239 Pu ( d , p f ) reaction between 4.5 and 9 MeV. The spectral characteristics show no significant change as a function of excitation energy above the fission barrier, despite the fact that an extra ∼ 5 MeV of energy is potentially available in the excited fragments for γ decay. The measured results are compared with model calculations made for prompt γ -ray emission with the fission model code gef. Further comparison with previously obtained results from thermal neutron induced fission is made to characterize possible differences arising from using the surrogate ( d , p ) reaction.