Delayed Neutron Yield Calculations for the Neutron-Induced Fission of Uranium-235 as a Function of the Incident Neutron Energy

The total delayed neutron yield from 235U was calculated as a function of the energy of the neutron inducing fission. The calculations (based on fission data and fission systematics) extend from thermal to 15-MeV neutron energies. The energy-dependent delayed neutron calculations are generally consistent with experimental results from thermal to 14-MeV neutron energies. Delayed neutron yields per 104 fissions of 168.7 ± 16.7, 178.2 ± 17.2, and 88.9 ± 10.0 were obtained at thermal, fission-spectrum, and 15-MeV neutron energies, respectively. The energy dependence of the odd-even effect in the fission charge distribution was found to partially account for the near constant yield observed below 5-MeV neutron energy, as well as the rapid decrease in yield observed at the second-chance fission threshold.