Neutron Capture Measuremetns on Minor Actinides at the n TOF Facility at CERN: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

The successful development of advanced nuclear systems for sustainable energy production and

nuclear waste management depends on high quality nuclear data libraries. Recent sensitivity stud- ies and reports [1-3] have identified the need for substantially improving the accuracy of neutron

cross-section data for minor actinides. The n TOF collaboration has initiated an ambitious exper- imental program for the measurement of neutron capture cross sections of minor actinides. Two

experimental setups have been constructed for this purpose: a Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) [4] for measuring neutron capture cross-sections of low-mass and/or radioactive samples and a set of two low neutron sensitivity C6D6 detectors for the less radioactive materials.