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At least 55 records · Page 3

Determination of Resonance Parameters and their Covariances from Neutron Induced Reaction Cross Section Data

Cross section data in the resolved and unresolved resonance region are represented by nuclear reaction formalisms using parameters which are determined by fitting them to experimental data. Therefore, the quality of evaluated cross sections in the resonance region strongly depends on the experimental data used in the adjustment process and an assessment of the experimental covariance data is of primary importance in determining the accuracy of evaluated cross section data. In this contribution, uncertainty components of experimental observables resulting from total and reaction cross section experiments are quantified by identifying the metrological parameters involved in the measurement, data reduction and analysis process. In addition, different methods that can be applied to propagate the covariance of the experimental observables (i.e. transmission and reaction yields) to the covariance of the resonance parameters are discussed and compared. The methods being discussed are: conventional uncertainty propagation, Monte Carlo sampling and marginalization. It is demonstrated that the final covariance matrix of the resonance parameters not only strongly depends on the type of experimental observables used in the adjustment process, the experimental conditions and the characteristics of the resonance structure, but also on the method that is used to propagate the covariances. Finally, a special data reduction concept and format is presented, which offers the possibility to store the full covariance information of experimental data in the EXFOR library and provides the information required to perform a full covariance evaluation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Preliminary Study on TRISO Fuel Cross Section Generation

Cross section self-shielding methodologies for TRISO fuel were assessed to provide accurate multigroup cross sections for a high-fidelity reactor physics code so that the code is able to accurately model and simulate advanced reactors with TRISO fuel. Initially, the two existing methodologies (the SCALE method and the Sanchez-Pomraning method) were studied and implemented to MC2-3 for detailed performance tests. Additionally, a new spatial self-shielding method, named the iterative local spatial self-shielding (ILSS) method, for particulate fuels was developed based on the disadvantage factor and implemented to MC2-3 as well. The new method approximately accounts for the effect of randomly distributed particles on the particle shadowing effect using a homogenized compact region surrounding a particle of interest at the center. The self-shielded cross sections of the particle at the center are determined iteratively since the cross sections of the homogenized compact region are calculated using them. For the energy range above 100 keV where the fuel-to-moderator ratio is more important than the random distribution of particles, a single particle unit-cell model is used by preserving the average amount of moderator per fuel particle in the system. The three self-shielding methods implemented in MC2-3 were tested using numerical benchmark problems made based on fuel compact problems of a prismatic-type very high temperature reactor. Test results indicated that the ILSS method produced slightly better results than the SCALE and Sanchez-Pomraning methods, compared to the Serpent-2 Monte Carlo results obtained with 25 independent random particle configurations. The SCALE and Sanchez-Pomraning methods tend to underestimate the heterogeneity effect by 150 and 100 pcm, respectively, while the new ILSS method overestimates the heterogeneity effect by 70 pcm. In future, the new self-shielding method will be extended to perform pebble calculations and compare results with those from the SCALE and Sanchez-Pomraning methods. Furthermore, the new method will be optimized for practical applications to on-the-fly resonance treatment for lattice or whole-core calculations for advanced reactors.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Measurement of the t-Channel Single Top Quark Production Cross Section in pp Collisions at {radical}(s)=7 TeV

Electroweak production of the top quark is measured for the first time in pp collisions at {radical}(s)=7 TeV, using a data set collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb{sup -1}. With an event selection optimized for t-channel production, two complementary analyses are performed. The first one exploits the special angular properties of the signal, together with background estimates from the data. The second approach uses a multivariate analysis technique to probe the compatibility with signal topology expected from electroweak top-quark production. The combined measurement of the cross section is 83.6{+-}29.8(stat+syst){+-}3.3(lumi) pb, consistent with the standard model expectation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurements of the Differential Cross Sections for the Elastic n-{sup 3}H and n-{sup 2}H Scattering at 14.1 MeV by Using an Inertial Confinement Fusion Facility

For the first time the differential cross section for the elastic neutron-triton (n-{sup 3}H) and neutron-deuteron (n-{sup 2}H) scattering at 14.1 MeV has been measured by using an inertial confinement fusion facility. In these experiments, which were carried out by simultaneously measuring elastically scattered {sup 3}H and {sup 2}H ions from a deuterium-tritium gas-filled inertial confinement fusion capsule implosion, the differential cross section for the elastic n-{sup 3}H scattering was obtained with significantly higher accuracy than achieved in previous accelerator experiments. The results compare well with calculations that combine the resonating-group method with an ab initio no-core shell model, which demonstrate that recent advances in ab initio theory can provide an accurate description of light-ion reactions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Copper K-shell emission cross sections for laser–solid experiments

Published measurements and models of the cross section for electrons causing K-shell emission from copper are reviewed to find a suitable expression to use when analyzing K{sub α}-emission measurements in laser–solid experiments at peak intensities above 10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2}. Few measurements exist in the 0.1- to 10-MeV electron energy range currently of interest, leaving a number of possible suitable models that are summarized here with a number of typing errors corrected. Two different limiting forms for the cross section at relativistic energies are used, and existing measurements do not give a clear indication as to which is correct. Comparison with the limiting form of electron stopping power indicates an alternative relativistic form and also that the density-effect correction will be important in copper above 10 MeV. For data analysis relying on relative K{sub α} emission caused by electrons with energy much greater than the K-shell binding energy, the existing uncertainty in cross sections is unimportant, but it will be a source of uncertainty when using absolute values and for electron energies up to ∼6× the binding energy. K-shell emission caused by photons and protons is also briefly reviewed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Measurements of differential cross sections of top quark pair production in association with jets in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV using the ATLAS detector

Measurements of differential cross sections of top quark pair production in association with jets by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC are presented. The measurements are performed as functions of the top quark transverse momentum, the transverse momentum of the top quark-antitop quark system and the out-of-plane transverse momentum using data from pp collisions at s√=13 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2015 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb -1 . The top quark pair events are selected in the lepton (electron or muon) + jets channel. The measured cross sections, which are compared to several predictions, allow a detailed study of top quark production.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Preliminary 235 U(n,f)/ 6 Li(n,t)a Cross Section Ratio Data & Update on the 239 Pu(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) Cross Section Ratio (FissionTPC FY2019 Report)

The primary motivation for the fissionTPC experiment is to provide precise, accurate data for evaluation of the 239 Pu(n,f) cross section. Neutron induced fission cross sections are typically measured as ratios, with a well known standard cross section being in the denominator. Measuring a ratio removes the need to quantify the neutron beam flux which is difficult to determine accurately. Any cross section ratio measurement is ultimately limited by the accuracy of the standard used. While the 235 U(n,f) standard is well measured some light particle reactions are known as well or better. Light particle reactions also remove some of the shared systematic uncertainties that are present in an actinide-only ratio measurement. To this end the NIFFTE collaboration originally proposed to measure the 239 Pu(n,f)/ 1 H(n,el) cross section ratio. The 1 H(n,el) reaction is well measured, smoothly varying as a function of energy and has good theoretical support, making it an ideal candidate for a cross section standard. Through simulation-based study and initial data collection with the fissionTPC of a 235 U(n,f)/ 1 H(n,el) cross section ratio it was determined that the measurement uncertainties could not be reduced sufficently to take full advantage of the high accuracy of the 1 H(n,el) reaction. The primary difficulties faced were the low energy of the scattered protons which do not provide enough signal to measure the neutron time-of-flight (nToF) with the fissionTPC fast cathode amplifier, and the the background (n,p) signals induced by the high energy component of the WNR beam. It should be noted that these challenges would be greatly reduced if we were to make such a measurement at a monoenergetic neutron facility. In light of these challenges other reactions were investigated. The 6 Li(n,t)a reaction was identified as a good alternative. The 4.8 MeV Q-value of the reaction provides a relatively large signal for nToF determination and the two charged particles (t & a) released in the reaction provide a signal well suited for background suppression in the fissionTPC. The 6 Li(n,t) reaction is considered a standard up to 1 MeV and is currently evaluated up to 3 MeV incident neutron energy. While this is a narrower energy range than the 1 H(n,el) reaction it overlaps well with the fission neutron spectrum. A mock evaluation was performed and it was estimated that a measurement of 239 Pu(n,f)/ 6 Li(n,t) would have an impact on the 239 Pu(n,f) evaluation comparable to a measurement using a the 1 H(n,el) reaction. While the 6 Li(n,t) reaction is not as well measured as the 1 H(n,el) reaction, the lack of previous measurements in the GMA database means that a new measurement of 239 Pu(n,f)/ 6 Li(n,t) will have a greater weighting and therefore a large impact on a future evaluation. In addition to providing a reduction in the 239 Pu(n,f) cross section evaluation uncertainties, a measurement of 6 Li(n,t) in the fissionTPC will provide data to resolve a discrepancy in previous measurements of the reaction above 1 MeV. Furthermore, the 6 Li data collected in the fissionTPC can also be analyzed to measure the 6 Li(n,nd) reaction for which there is limited discrepant data in the GMA database. This report will focus on: the motivation for making a 239 Pu(n,f)/ 6 Li(n,t) cross section ratio measurement; a preliminary look at 235 U(n,f)/ 6 Li(n,t) data collected which will emphasize the capability of the fissionTPC to make an nToF measurement with the fast cathode amplifier; and finally will provide a brief update on the 239 Pu(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) cross section analysis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The SCALE/AMPX multigroup cross section processing for fast reactor analysis

The SCALE/AMPX multigroup (MG) cross section processing procedure has been updated to minimize reactivity differences for fast reactor designs and boiling water reactors (BWRs) with very high void fractions to provide excellent agreement with continuous-energy reference calculations. SCALE MG calculations are widely applied to thermal spectrum light-water reactor (LWR) systems as well as fast spectrum metallic systems of interest to National Nuclear Security Administration. With growing interest from industry and regulators in applying SCALE for the design of fast spectrum reactors, both sodium and molten salt, and in the licensing of power up rates for BWRs, it is desirable to review the SCALE/AMPX procedure for unresolved resonance self-shielded data and high energy neutron spectra. The data were improved by generating MG unresolved resonance data based on the analytic probability table method with the narrow resonance approximation as well as the use of a very fine group structure typically used in fast system analysis. This study focused on verifying the probability table and the SCALE/AMPX MG cross section processing procedure by performing reaction rate analysis and benchmark calculations for various fast reactor and high void BWR systems. Here, results indicate that the improved SCALE/AMPX MG cross section processing provides excellent results for the fast reactor analysis.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Neutrino and Anti-neutrino Cross Sections at MiniBooNE

The MiniBooNE experiment has reported a number of high statistics neutrino and anti-neutrino cross sections -among which are the charged current quasi-elastic (CCQE) and neutral current elastic (NCE) neutrino scattering on mineral oil (CH{sub 2}). Recently a study of the neutrino contamination of the anti-neutrino beam has concluded and the analysis of the anti-neutrino CCQE and NCE scattering is ongoing.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement and QCD analysis of double-differential inclusive jet cross sections in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV and cross section ratios to 2.76 and 7 TeV

A measurement of the double-differential inclusive jet cross section as a function of the jet transverse momentum p$_{T}$ and the absolute jet rapidity |y| is presented. Data from LHC proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=8 $ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{−1}$, have been collected with the CMS detector. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-k$_{T}$ clustering algorithm with a size parameter of 0.7 in a phase space region covering jet p$_{T}$ from 74 GeV up to 2.5 TeV and jet absolute rapidity up to |y| = 3.0. The low-p$_{T}$ jet range between 21 and 74 GeV is also studied up to |y| = 4.7, using a dedicated data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 pb$^{−1}$. The measured jet cross section is corrected for detector effects and compared with the predictions from perturbative QCD at next-to-leading order (NLO) using various sets of parton distribution functions (PDF). Cross section ratios to the corresponding measurements performed at 2.76 and 7 TeV are presented. From the measured double-differential jet cross section, the value of the strong coupling constant evaluated at the Z mass is α$_{S}$(M$_{Z}$) = 0.1164$_{− 0.0043}^{+ 0.0060}$ , where the errors include the PDF, scale, nonperturbative effects and experimental uncertainties, using the CT10 NLO PDFs. Improved constraints on PDFs based on the inclusive jet cross section measurement are presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Total cross sections for positrons scattered elastically from helium based on new measurements of total ionization cross sections

An improved technique is presented for employing the 2.3m spectrometer to measure total ionization cross sections, Q sub ion, for positrons incident on He. The new ionization cross section agree with the values reported earlier. Estimates are also presented of total elastic scattering cross section, Q sub el, obtained by subtracting from total scattering cross sections, Q sub tot, reported in the literature, the Q sub ion and Q sub Ps (total positronium formation cross sections) and total excitation cross sections, Q sub ex, published by another researcher. The Q sub ion and Q sub el measured with the 3m high resolution time-of-flight spectrometer for 54.9eV positrons are in accord with the results from the 2.3m spectrometer. The ionization cross sections are in fair agreement with theory tending for the most part to be higher, especially at 76.3 and 88.5eV. The elastic cross section agree quite well with theory to the vicinity of 50eV, but at 60eV and above the experimental elastic cross sections climb to and remain at about 0.30 pi a sub o sq while the theoretical values steadily decrease.

Diana, L. M.↗

First measurement of the muon antineutrino double-differential charged-current quasielastic cross section

The largest sample ever recorded of v ¯ μ charged-current quasielastic (CCQE, ν ¯<!-- ¯ --> μ + p → μ + + n ) candidate events is used to produce the minimally model-dependent, flux-integrated double-differential cross section d 2 σ d T μ d c o s θ μ ν ¯<!-- ¯ --> μ for v ¯ μ CCQE for a mineral oil target. This measurement exploits the large statistics of the MiniBooNE antineutrino mode sample and provides the most complete information of this process to date. In order to facilitate historical comparisons, the flux-unfolded total cross section $σ(E_ν)$ and single-differential cross section d dσ Q 2 on both mineral oil and on carbon are also reported. The observed cross section is somewhat higher than the predicted cross section from a model assuming independently acting nucleons in carbon with canonical form factor values. The shape of the data are also discrepant with this model. Finally, these results have implications for intranuclear processes and can help constrain signal and background processes for future neutrino oscillation measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗