FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072

Title: FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra

Abstract

We report a new software package, the Fission Induced Electromagnetic Response (FIER) code, has been developed to analytically predict delayed γ-ray spectra following fission. FIER uses evaluated nuclear data and solutions to the Bateman equations to calculate the time-dependent populations of fission products and their decay daughters resulting from irradiation of a fissionable isotope. These populations are then used in the calculation of γ-ray emission rates to obtain the corresponding delayed γ-ray spectra. FIER output was compared to experimental data obtained by irradiation of a ²³⁵U sample in the Godiva critical assembly. This investigation illuminated discrepancies in the input nuclear data libraries, showcasing the usefulness of FIER as a tool to address nuclear data deficiencies through comparison with experimental data. Finally, FIER provides traceability between γ-ray emissions and their contributing nuclear species, decay chains, and parent fission fragments, yielding a new capability for the nuclear science community.

Authors:

Matthews, E. F. ^[1]; Goldblum, B. L. ^[1]; Bernstein, L. A. ^[2]; Quiter, B. J. ^[3]; Brown, J. A. ^[1]; Younes, W. ^[4]; Burke, J. T. ^[4]; Padgett, S. W. ^[4]; Ressler, J. J. ^[4]; Tonchev, A. P. ^[4]

Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Department of Nuclear Engineering
Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Department of Nuclear Engineering; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Nuclear Science Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Nuclear Science Division
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Publication Date:: 2018-02-26

Research Org.:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

OSTI Identifier:: 1466178

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1548665

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-742012
Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002; 896227

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344; NA0003180; NA0000979; AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 891; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; Delayed, gamma rays; Radiation simulation; Nuclear data; Fission products; Nuclear forensics

Citation Formats


                    Matthews, E. F., Goldblum, B. L., Bernstein, L. A., Quiter, B. J., Brown, J. A., Younes, W., Burke, J. T., Padgett, S. W., Ressler, J. J., and Tonchev, A. P. FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
        Web.  doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072.

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                    Matthews, E. F., Goldblum, B. L., Bernstein, L. A., Quiter, B. J., Brown, J. A., Younes, W., Burke, J. T., Padgett, S. W., Ressler, J. J., & Tonchev, A. P. FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra.  United States.  doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072.

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                    Matthews, E. F., Goldblum, B. L., Bernstein, L. A., Quiter, B. J., Brown, J. A., Younes, W., Burke, J. T., Padgett, S. W., Ressler, J. J., and Tonchev, A. P. Mon .  
        "FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra".  United States.  doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1466178.

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@article{osti_1466178,

  title        = {FIER: Software for analytical modeling of delayed gamma-ray spectra},

  author       = {Matthews, E. F. and Goldblum, B. L. and Bernstein, L. A. and Quiter, B. J. and Brown, J. A. and Younes, W. and Burke, J. T. and Padgett, S. W. and Ressler, J. J. and Tonchev, A. P.},

  abstractNote = {We report a new software package, the Fission Induced Electromagnetic Response (FIER) code, has been developed to analytically predict delayed γ-ray spectra following fission. FIER uses evaluated nuclear data and solutions to the Bateman equations to calculate the time-dependent populations of fission products and their decay daughters resulting from irradiation of a fissionable isotope. These populations are then used in the calculation of γ-ray emission rates to obtain the corresponding delayed γ-ray spectra. FIER output was compared to experimental data obtained by irradiation of a 235U sample in the Godiva critical assembly. This investigation illuminated discrepancies in the input nuclear data libraries, showcasing the usefulness of FIER as a tool to address nuclear data deficiencies through comparison with experimental data. Finally, FIER provides traceability between γ-ray emissions and their contributing nuclear species, decay chains, and parent fission fragments, yielding a new capability for the nuclear science community.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072},

  journal      = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 891,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2018},

  month        = {2}

}

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DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.02.072

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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1: Illustration of the implementation of the Bateman solutions. The population calculated in the continuous production solution at the end of each time step is added to the initial population in the batch decay solution for the subsequent time step.

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