Measurement of fission cross sections and fragment angular distributions using solid state track detectors

Fission cross sections and angular distributions of fission fragments from fissions induced by 14.1 and 15.8 MeV neutrons, respectively, in 232Th, 231Pa, 233U, 235U, 238U, 237Np, 239Pu and 241Am have been studied using Lexan plastic track detectors. A novel experimental set-up evolved from considerations of neutron economy allows simultaneous measurement of angular distribution of fission fragments from five independently fissioning nuclides at a time. The data on angular anistropy were analysed in the perspective of different chances of fissions taking place simultaneously in this energy region. Third-chance fission thresholds for 231Pa and 241Am were estimated from the measured anisotropy values to be 13.2 and 11.1 MeV, respectively. (author)