Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Johnson, T. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Johnson, T. D..

Compilation and Evaluation of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities and Half-Lives for Z > 28 Precursors

We present a compilation and evaluation of experimental β-delayed neutron emission probabilities (P n ) and half-lives (T 1/2 ) for known or potential β-delayed neutron precursors with atomic number Z >28 ( 73 Cu – 233 Fr). This article includes the recommended values of both of these quantities, together with a compilation of experimental measurements when available. Some notable cases, as well as proposed standards forβ-delayed neutron measurements are also discussed. Evaluated data has also been compared to systematics using three different approaches.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The decay data sub-library in ENDF/B-VIII.0 - 25453

We describe the ENDF/B-VIII.0 decay data sub-library, in particular the main changes since its previous release. Its application in calculating the antineutrino spectra from nuclear reactions is briefly presented. (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8 th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data

We describe the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluated nuclear reaction data library. ENDF/B-VIII.0 fully incorporates the new IAEA standards, includes improved thermal neutron scattering data and uses new evaluated data from the CIELO project for neutron reactions on 1 H, 16 O, 56 Fe, 235 U, 238 U and 239 Pu described in companion papers in the present issue of Nuclear Data Sheets. The evaluations benefit from recent experimental data obtained in the U.S. and Europe, and improvements in theory and simulation. Notable advances include updated evaluated data for light nuclei, structural materials, actinides, fission energy release, prompt fission neutron and γ-ray spectra, thermal neutron scattering data, and charged-particle reactions. Integral validation testing is shown for a wide range of criticality, reaction rate, and neutron transmission benchmarks. In general, integral validation performance of the library is improved relative to the previous ENDF/B-VII.1 library.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

New measurement of the lifetime of the 2 + 1 state of 12 Be

The lifetime of the $2_1^+$ state at 2.1 MeV in $^{12}$Be has been measured using inelastic scattering of a $^{12}$Be beam at 43 MeV/nucleon with a gold target. Through the Doppler shift attenuation method, the mean-life of the $2_1^+$ state has been determined as 2.5±0.7(stat)±0.3 (syst) ps, which gives a B(E2; $2_1^+$ → $0_{g.s.}^+$)) value of 4.9±1.3±0.5 in Weisskopf units. The result shows a large quadrupole strength in the ground state transition, providing further evidence on the disappearance of the N=8 magic number. The B(E2; $2_1^+$ → $0_{g.s.}^+$) value together with the deformation length measured by proton inelastic scattering yields a neutron quadrupole matrix element two times larger than those for $^{14}$C and ${16}$O.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclear Data Sheets for A=189

Evaluated experimental data are presented for 13 known mass 189 nuclides (Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po). Since the 2003Wu02 publication, structure and decay data from 25 new and primary publications have been incorporated in the current work, while adding a new 189 Hf nuclide. New data have been added for all nuclides except 189 Au and 189 Hg. Moreover, several previous datasets were modified for β-decay Q values and conversion coefficients even when no new publications appeared since 2003Wu02. In spite of large amounts of data available for A=189 nuclides, several deficiencies remain, which are pointed out below in the hope that further experimental work may improve our knowledge of structure of these nuclides. For 189 Hf and 189 Ta, ground-state half-lives, and their decay schemes are unknown. An isomer in 189 Ta has recently been established but its decay characteristics are unknown, even though several gamma rays were connected with its decay. No excited states are known in 189 W and only one in 189 Po. The decay scheme of 189 W is known poorly with most gamma rays left as unassigned. The decay schemes of 189 Au and 189 Pb g.s. suffer from incompleteness, while those for the g.s. and isomer of 189 Tl are almost absent. The decay schemes of g.s. and isomer of 189 Hg are very complex as apparent from the study by 1996Wo04. Evaluators feel that these two decay schemes could be improved with modern gamma-ray detector arrays. While several isomers are known in many of the A=189 nuclides, there is in general lack of information of level half-lives, thus limiting the knowledge of transition probabilities. High-spin structures, including SD bands in 189 Hg and 189 Tl, are known in 189 Re, 189 Ir, 189 Pt, 189 Au, 189 Hg, 189 Tl, 189 Pb and 189 Bi. Single-particle transfer data are available for 189 Re, 189 Os, and 189 Pt; and two-neutron transfer data for 189 Ir.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Effects of fission yield data in the calculation of antineutrino spectra for U 235 ( n , fission ) at thermal and fast neutron energies

Fission yields form an integral part of the prediction of antineutrino spectra generated by nuclear reactors, but little attention has been paid to the quality and reliability of the data used in current calculations. Following a critical review of the thermal and fast ENDF/B-VII.1 235 U fission yields, deficiencies are identified and improved yields are obtained, based on corrections of erroneous yields, consistency between decay and fission yield data, and updated isomeric ratios. These corrected yields are used to calculate antineutrino spectra using the summation method. An anomalous value for the thermal fission yield of 86 Ge generates an excess of antineutrinos at 5–7 MeV, a feature which is no longer present when the corrected yields are used. Thermal spectra calculated with two distinct fission yield libraries (corrected ENDF/B and JEFF) differ by up to 6% in the 0–7 MeV energy window, allowing for a basic estimate of the uncertainty involved in the fission yield component of summation calculations. Lastly, the fast neutron antineutrino spectrum is calculated, which at the moment can only be obtained with the summation method and may be relevant for short baseline reactor experiments using highly enriched uranium fuel.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 87

The evaluated experimental data are presented for 14 known nuclides of mass 87 (Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru). New datasets have been added for {sup 87}Ga, {sup 87}Se, {sup 87}Kr, {sup 87}Rb, {sup 87}Sr, {sup 87}Nb, and {sup 87}Tc. The observation of and new lifetime measurements for {sup 87}As at the NSCL Coupled Cyclotron Facility and the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron at the HRIBF–ORNL Facility are included in the adopted levels for this isotope. The new evaluation also includes an isomeric level at unknown energy for {sup 87}Tc, changes to the adopted levels for {sup 87}Nb based on newly published data including an extension of the high spin levels and new lifetime measurements, and new heavy ion data for {sup 87}Kr. New high spin levels for {sup 87}Rb were observed, indicating possible neutron core excitations. In addition, the ground state lifetime of {sup 87}Rb has been revised and a new lifetime measurement for an excited level in {sup 87}Rb indicates a possible proton spin flip. New excitation levels have been observed for the first time in {sup 87}Se. New direct and precise measurement of atomic masses of {sup 87}Tc, {sup 87}Mo, {sup 87}Nb, {sup 87}Zr, {sup 87}Mo and {sup 87}Tc have greatly improved the Q value landscape in this mass region. This work supersedes the previous A=87 evaluation published in 2002He09, and Q values for all isotopes were updated to incorporate the mass evaluation in 2012Wa38.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Evaluation of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities and Half-Lives for Z = 2–28

We present an evaluation and compilation of β-delayed neutron probabilities and half-lives for nuclei in the region Z = 2–28 ({sup 8}He–{sup 80}Ni). This article includes the recommended values of these quantities as well as a compiled list of experimental measurements for each nucleus in the region for which β-delayed neutron emission is possible. The literature cut-off for this work is August 15{sup th}, 2015. Some notable cases as well as new standards for β-delayed neutron measurements in this mass region are also discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A New Approach to Estimating the Probability for β-delayed Neutron Emission

The probability for neutron emission following β decay, Pn, is a crucial property for a wide range of physics and applications including nuclear structure, r-process nucleosynthesis, the control of nuclear reactors, and the post-processing of nuclear fuel. Despite much experimental effort, knowledge of Pn values is still lacking in very neutron-rich nuclei, requiring predictions from either systematics or theoretical models. Traditionally, systematic predictions were made by investigating the Pn value as a function of the decay Q value and the neutron separation energy in the daughter nucleus. A new approach to Pn systematics is presented which incorporates the half-life of the decay and the Q value for β-delayed neutron emission. This prescription correlates the known data better, and thus improves the estimation of Pn values for neutron-rich nuclei. Such an approach can be applied to generate input values for r-process network calculations or in the modeling of advanced fuel cycles.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

First Compilation and Evaluation of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities and Associated Half-Lives for A ≤ 72 Nuclei

A comprehensive compilation and evaluation of beta-delayed neutron (β{sup −}n) emission probabilities, P{sub n}, and associated half-lives for A ≤ 72 nuclei has been performed for the first time. The recommended values have been used to analyze the systematics of β{sup −}n emission in this region. The ratio P{sub n}/T{sub 1/2} is better correlated with the Q-value of the β{sup −}n decay mode than the previously proposed Kratz-Herrmann Formula (KHF). The recommended values are also compared with theoretical quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗