Measurement and analysis of thorium fission rate in a polyethylene shell with a D-T neutron source

In order to validate the 232Th fission cross section, an integral experiment was carried out using the activation method in a polyethylene shell with a D-T neutron source. Thorium samples were arranged in the 0° direction to the incident D+ beam. The 232Th fission rate was determined by measuring the 151.195 keV characteristic γ ray emitted from the fission fragment 85mKr, and the experimental uncertainties were about 5.3%. MCNP calculation results employing ENDF/B-VII.0, JENDL-3.3, JENDL-4.0 libraries are in good agreement with that of experiments within uncertainties except that employing ENDF/B-VII.1 (∼6.5%). The experiment results can be used to re-evaluate the 232Th fission cross section.