Measurement of flux perturbation effects and reaction rates in Pu-Al booster rods at ZERLINA

Measurements have been carried out with two types of booster rods containing 10.45 w/o and 18.14 w/o of plutonium respectively in Pu-Al alloy. The booster rod was located horizontally in the centre of the ZERLINA reactor. Fine structure flux distributions were measured inside and around the booster rod in the axial and the radial directions using copper wire pieces. Flux perturbation effects were found by measuring the axial and radial flux distributions by irradiating copper wires of various lengths along different lines with and without the booster rod in the core. Reaction rates of In-Al, Lu-Mn-Al, Au-Al, Cu- and Pu-Al foils and U235-Al wires were measured. From the In116/Mn56, Lu176/Mn56 and Au198/Cu64, Lu176/Cu64 reaction rate ratios the values of the Westcott parameters r and T were derived. The results are reported. (author)