The Absolute Yields of Xenon and Krypton in U 238 Spontaneous Fission

Abstract

The absolute abundances of fission-product xenon and krypton isotopes in six uranium minerals were determined mass spectrometrically using the isotope dilution technique. The fission products were resolved into a U spontaneous fission component, a U 235 neutron-induced fission component, and a U 238 neutron-induced fission component. The presence of U 238 of neutron-induced fission indicated that t he neutron energies in uranium minerals were higher than had been suspected. Internal consistency in the analysis was achieved only when the I 29 yield in u235 thermal neutron fission reported by Purkayastha and Martin was lowered by 20%. The number of U 238 spontaneous fissions was calculated from the lead age, U 238 content, and the U 238 pontaneous fission half life. A comparison of the number of fission products from U 238 spontaneous fission and the number of spontaneous fissions in each of the six minerals showed that five of the six minerals had lost large portions of their noble gases. A fractionation of krypton relative to xenon accompanied this loss. The results obtained for the sixth mineral indicated little or no loss of xenon and krypton. Absolute yields for U 238 spontaneous fission were therefore determined from an analysis of this mineral.