Modeling of the n + ²⁴²Pu Reactions for Fast Reactor Applications

Interpretations of the MUSE-4, PROFIL, and PROFIL-2 experiments with the latest version of the European library JEFF-3.1 have delivered reliable integral trends of neutron-induced reactions on ²⁴²Pu. This paper reports the improved modeling of the fission and capture cross sections in the unresolved resonance and "continuum" energy ranges. The focus of this study is the description of the fast energy range with average neutron properties deduced from the statistical analysis of the resolved resonance parameters of the nuclear systems n + ²³⁹Pu, n + ²⁴⁰Pu, n + ²⁴¹Pu, and n + ²⁴²Pu.