Integral experiments to measure the production rates of 242Cm and 244Cm in fast reactor spectra

Integral production cross-sections for 242Cm and 244Cm have been experimentally determined in the zero power fast reactor ZEBRA. Sensitive radiochemical methods have been used to determine the curium produced in milligram samples of irradiated 241Am and 243Am. The experimental results are compared with values calculated using neutron spectra from ZEBRA standard analysis methods and americium capture cross-sections from recent Harwell differential evaluations. The comparisons provide valuable information on the accuracies of these capture data, which were largely based on theoretical models. (Auth.)