Comparison of (alpha, n) thick-target neutron yields and spectra from ORINGEN-S and SOURCES
Both ORIGEN-S and SOURCES generate thick-target neutron yields and energy spectra from ({alpha},n) reactions in homogeneous materials. SOURCES calculates yield and spectra for any material containing {alpha}-emitting and ({alpha},n) target elements by simulating reaction physics, using {alpha}-emission energy spectra, elemental stopping cross sections, ({alpha},n) cross sections for target nuclei, and branching fractions to produce-nuclide energy levels. This methodology results in accurate yield and spectra. ORIGEN-S has two options for calculating yields and spectra. The UO{sub 2} option (default) estimates yields and spectra assuming the input {alpha}-emitters to be infinitely dilute in UO{sub 2}. The borosilicate-glass option estimates yields from the total input material composition and generates spectra purportedly representative of spectra generated by {sup 238}Pu, {sup 241}Am, {sup 242}Cm, and {sup 244}Cm infinitely dilute in borosilicate glass, even if none of these four {alpha}-emitters are present in the input material composition. Because yields from the borosilicate-glass option in ORIGEN-S are based on entire input material composition and are reasonably accurate, the same is often assumed to be true for spectra. The input/output functionality of the borosilicate-glass option, along with ambiguity in ORIGEN-S documentation, gives the incorrect impression that spectra representative of input compositions are generated. This impression is reinforced by wide usage of the SCALE code system and its ORIGEN-S module and their sponsorship by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 314146
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-98-3094; CONF-981106-; ON: DE99001845; TRN: 99:003288
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: American Nuclear Society winter meeting, Washington, DC (United States), 15-19 Nov 1998; Other Information: PBD: [1998]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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