Nuclear Properties

The nuclear properties of uranium are summarized in Table 7.1. U235 and U233 nuclides have substantial fission cross sections at the thermal neutron energy level (average energy of 0.025 eV), but U238 has negligible fission cross section as it is not fissile (rather fertile). Natural uranium contains only 0.7% U235. So, as the enrich­ment of U235 is increased, the fission cross section increases. The absorption cross section in Table 7.1 is the sum of fission and capture cross sections.

Table 7.1 Thermal nuclear cross sections and other parameters for uranium (for thermal neutron of average energy 0.025 eV).

U233

U235

U238

Natural U

Fission cross section

531.1

582.2

<0.0005

4.18

Capture cross section

47.7

98.6

2.71

3.50

Absorption cross section

578.8

680.8

~2.71

7.68

n (Neutrons/fission)

2.52

2.47

2.46

g, Fast neutrons/thermal neutron absorbed

2.28

2.07

1.34