Pre-neutron-emission mass distributions for reaction $^{238}$U(n, f) up to 60 MeV

TL;DR

This study models pre-neutron-emission mass distributions for uranium-238 neutron-induced fission up to 60 MeV, accurately fitting experimental data and predicting distributions at unmeasured energies using an empirical fission potential approach.

Contribution

The paper introduces an empirical fission potential model that describes energy-dependent mass distributions and accounts for evaporation neutrons before scission, improving predictions for uranium-238 fission.

Findings

Successfully reproduces experimental mass distributions up to 60 MeV.

Describes the energy dependence of distribution peaks and valleys.

Predicts mass distributions at energies lacking experimental data.

Abstract

The pre-neutron-emission mass distributions for reaction $^{238}$U(n, f) up to 60 MeV are systematically studied with an empirical fission potential model. The energy dependence of the peaks and valleys of the pre-neutron-emission mass distributions is described by an exponential form based on the newly measured data. The energy dependence of evaporation neutrons before scission is also considered, which plays a crucial role for the reasonable description of the mass distributions. The measured data for the pre-neutron-emission mass distributions for reaction $^{238}$U(n, f) are reasonably well reproduced up to 60 MeV. The mass distributions at unmeasured energies are also predicted with this approach.