Measurements of the 235U(n,f) cross section in the 3 to 30 MeV neutron energy region

To improve the accuracy of the 235U(n, f) cross section, measurements have been made of this standard cross section at the target 4 facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The data were obtained at the 20-meter flight path of that facility. The fission reaction rate was determined with a fast parallel plate ionization chamber and the neutron fluence was measured with an annular proton recoil telescope. The measurements provide the shape of the 235U(n, f) cross section relative to the hydrogen scattering cross section for neutron energies from about 3 to 30 MeV neutron energy. The data have been normalized to the very accurately known value near 14 MeV. The results are in good agreement with the ENDF/B-VI evaluation up to about 15 MeV neutron energy. Above this energy differences as large as 5% are observed. (orig.)