First fission yield measurements at the National Ignition Facility: 14-MeV neutron fission of 238U

The use of the Solid Radiochemistry diagnostic platform at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has allowed the development and implementation of the Target Option Activation Device assembly for fielding materials of interest inside the NIF chamber during high yield neutron shots. Preliminary studies with ultra-depleted uranium have allowed for the measurements of fission yields of 238U. Radiochemical procedures were utilized for the separation of fission and reaction products from the target material to provide higher sensitivity measurements. Cumulative fission mass-yields for 32 different isobars, 72 ≤ A ≤ 153, were measured from experiments fielded on two separate NIF shots.