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Published on: August 24, 2017
Neodymium neutron cross section measurements.
D P Barry1, M J Trbovich, Y Danon
1Gaerttner LINAC Laboratory, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Department, Troy, NY 12180-3590, USA.
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|December 31, 2005
Summary
New measurements of neutron capture and transmission in neodymium provide more accurate resonance parameters. These findings refine calculations for the capture resonance integral, showing a 7% reduction compared to existing data.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Neutron Scattering
Background:
- Accurate nuclear data for neodymium isotopes is crucial for reactor physics and nuclear applications.
- Previous resonance parameter evaluations had significant statistical uncertainties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely determine neutron resonance parameters for neodymium isotopes.
- To calculate the capture resonance integral in the 1.0-500 eV energy range.
- To improve the accuracy of nuclear data libraries.
Main Methods:
- Neutron capture and transmission measurements using the time-of-flight technique at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute LINAC.
- Utilized a 16-segment NaI(Tl) multiplicity detector for capture and a 6Li glass scintillation detector for transmission.
- Analyzed data using the multilevel R-matrix Bayesian code SAMMY.
Main Results:
- Determined resonance parameters for all naturally occurring neodymium isotopes between 1.0-500 eV.
- Calculated capture resonance integral of 32 ± 0.5 barn, approximately 7% lower than ENDF-B/VI.
- Significantly reduced statistical uncertainties compared to previous studies.
Conclusions:
- The new resonance parameters offer a more accurate representation of neodymium's neutron interaction properties.
- This improved data can lead to enhanced nuclear reactor design and safety analyses.
- The findings highlight the importance of precise experimental measurements for nuclear data validation.
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