Prompt Fission Neutron Spectra of Actinides

Closed for Proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

F41026

CRP

1673

Approved Date

6 November 2009

Project Status

Closed

Start Date

6 November 2009

Expected End Date

30 April 2015

Completed Date

29 October 2014

Description

The energy spectrum of prompt neutrons emitted in fission plays an important role in many applications in nuclear science and technology. The Co-ordinated Research Project on “Prompt fission neutron spectra of actinides” is proposed to provide prompt fission neutron spectra for 235,238U, 239Pu and 232Th nuclei. The outcome would be a recommended evaluation of prompt fission spectra of major actinides with covariances from thermal to 20 MeV incident neutrons, including validation against integral critical assembly and dosimetry data. Reactor operators and designers will draw upon data generated from this CRP to improve both operational safety and efficiency. Modelling efforts will use these data in diagnosing reactors and critical devices and in optimising design parameters in future reactor.s

Objectives

To enhance the ability of MS to produce and/or utilise good quality nuclear data in their existing reactor applications’ databases through evaluation of prompt fission neutron spectra with covariances from thermal to 20 MeV for major actinides

Specific Objectives

To facilitate interaction and sharing of work within the community in a timely and professional manner

To incorporate available experimental information on PFNS for major actinides into evaluated nuclear data files

To make available existing experimental information on prompt fission neutron spectra (PFNS) relevant to fission reactors’ applications, which can be processed and used by users worldwide,

To recommend evaluations of PFNS with covariances from thermal to 20 MeV incident neutron energy

Impact

This CRP produced key evaluations of the prompt fission neutron spectra for major actinides which have been adopted in national and international evaluated nuclear libraries worldwide.
The CRP has been extremely successful. A highly cited comprehensive technical paper was published summarizing the CRP results.

Relevance

Highly relevant to improve the evaluated PFNS data.

CRP Publications

LANL (USA): Patrick Talou, Mike Rising, Toshihiko Kawano and Anil Prinja

Peer-reviewed paper international journal

EPJ Web of Conferences 27, 00001 (2012)

Systematic Quantification of Uncertainties for Evaluated Prompt Fission Neutron Spectra and Multiplicities