New investigations of the criticality property of pure 232U

This paper presents results of new calculations of criticality of 232U performed using the basic evaluated nuclear data files JENDL-3.2 (Japan) and ENDF/B-VI.5 (USA) using the NJOY-MCNP code system. Comparisons of these two basic nuclear data files have been done using PREPRO2000 code system and are presented. The critical mass of 232U calculated using ENDF/B-VI.5 and JENDL-3.2 respectively are 3.73 and 13.6 kg. The paper presents a mention of formation routes of 232U. A few remarks on the role of 232U in providing resistance to proliferation of fissile material with respect to utilizing thorium in thermal, fast, fusion and accelerator driven systems are made.