Prompt-fission-neutrons spectra of 238U

The spectra of prompt fission neutrons from the reaction ²³⁸U(n, F) for neutrons of energy in the range E _n ≤ 20 MeV are interpreted within the statistical model. It is shown that exclusive spectra of prefission neutrons emitted in (n, xnf) reactions play a decisive role in describing the observed promptfission-neutron spectra and determine the average energies of prompt-fission neutrons. The dependence of the effect of prefission neutrons on the fissility of a target nucleus is demonstrated for the reactions ²³²Th(n, F), ²³⁵U(n, F), and ²³⁹Pu(n, F).