The average number, , of prompt neutrons emitted in the spontaneous fission of U238 and Pu240 has been measured relative to
for the spontaneous fission of Cf252. This reference value is taken to be
= 3.80. The measurements have been performed with large liquid scintillators and the results obtained are
(U238) = 1.97 ± 0.07 and
(Pu240) = 2.154 ± 0.028.