Fast Neutron Total and Scattering Cross Sections of Plutonium-240

Experimental fast neutron total cross sections and elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections of ²⁴⁰Pu are reported. The total cross sections are measured from neutron energies of 0.1 to 1.5 MeV in increments of ∼25 keV. The scattering cross sections are measured at 50-keV intervals from incident neutron energies of 0.3 to 1.5 MeV. The inelastic neutron excitation cross sections of states at 42 ± 5, 140 ± 10, 300 ± 20, 600 ± 20, and 900 ± 50 keV are measured. The experimental results are discussed in the context of the optical, compound-nucleus and direct-reaction nuclear models including the effects of resonance width fluctuations and the fission process. The measured results are compared with the corresponding quantities in the evaluated nuclear data file ENDF/B.