Analysis of the Fission and Capture Cross Sections of the Curium Isotopes

Using a nuclear explosion as a neutron source, measurements were made of the fission cross sections of ²⁴⁴Cm, ²⁴⁵Cm, ²⁴⁶Cm, and ²⁴⁸Cm between 20 eV and 3 MeV. Radiative-capture cross sections were measured at the same time for a sample of mixed Cm isotopes, consisting primarily of ²⁴⁴Cm and ²⁴⁶Cm. Resonance analysis was carried out for ²⁴⁴Cm between 20 eV and 1 keV, for ²⁴⁶Cm and ²⁴⁸Cm between 20 and 400 eV, and for the odd isotopes between 20 and 60 eV. The results of the analysis show evidence of intermediate structure in the sub-barrier fission of ²⁴⁴Cm.