Cross-section measurements for 239Pu(n,f) and 6Li(n,αα) with a lead slowing-down spectrometer

We present fission cross-section measurements with ∼10ng of 239Pu performed using the LANSCE Lead Slowing-Down Spectrometer. Results of Li6(n,α) measurements with a sample size of 760ng of 6Li are also reported. This technical achievement demonstrates the feasibility of measuring neutron-induced fission cross-section on samples with 10ng of fissile actinides that are available on ultra-small quantities. Furthermore, results on neutron-induced alpha emission show that measurements for astrophysics purposes are feasible with the LSDS.