New Neutron Cross-Section Measurements at ORELA for Improved Nuclear Criticality Calculations

Conference · Mon Apr 26 04:00:00 EDT 2004

OSTI ID:931414

Guber, Klaus H. ^[1]; Leal, Luiz C. ^[1]; Sayer, Royce O. ^[1]; Koehler, Paul Edward ^[1]; Valentine, Timothy E. ^[1]; Derrien, Herve ^[1]; Harvey, John A. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Many older neutron cross-section evaluations from libraries such as ENDF/B-VI or JENDL-3.2 exhibit deficiencies or do not cover energy ranges that are important for criticality safety applications. These deficiencies may occur in the resolved and unresolved-resonance regions. Consequently, these evaluated data may not be adequate for nuclear criticality calculations where effects such as self-shielding, multiple scattering, or Doppler broadening are important. To support the Nuclear Criticality Predictability Program, neutron cross-section measurements have been initiated at the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA). ORELA is the only high-power white neutron source with excellent time resolution still operating in the United States. It is ideally suited to measure fission, neutron total, and capture cross sections in the energy range from 1 eV to {approx}600 keV, which is important for many nuclear criticality safety applications.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 931414
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Cross Sections Capture
Fission Measuring
Neutron Cross-Section Measurements
Neutron Total
Nuclear Criticality Predictability Program
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA)
Resolved and Unresolved-Resonance Regions Deficiencies