Spectra of secondary neutrons produced in the passage of 14 MeV neutrons through layers of fissile material

Abstract

Measurements are presented of the energy spectra of secondary neutrons formed in layers of ²³²Th, ²³³U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu under bombardment by 14 MeV neutrons. It is shown that all the spectra contain two components, characteristic respectively of fission and evaporation processes. The coefficients involved in resolving the spectra into their components have been expressed as a function of the nuclear constants.