A covariance methodology for theoretically generated thermal neutron inelastic scattering data - 14502
The The S(α,β) double-differential thermal neutron scattering law tabulated in ENDF File 7 is, by convention, produced theoretically through fundamental scattering physics models for material-specific interatomic structures. Differential and integral inelastic scattering cross sections are calculated by numerically integrating over S(α,β). This information is supplied to nuclear system simulation codes. For systems with a significant thermal neutron flux, calculated system response parameters can be sensitive to this thermal cross section data. Formats and procedures are currently established for representing uncertainty information, or covariances, for various types of ENDF reaction data. However, no published ENDF evaluations contain covariance data for S(α,β) or associated differential and integral inelastic scattering cross sections. Furthermore, no accepted methodology exists for quantifying or representing covariances for this thermal scattering data. For most solids, the influence of a material's interatomic structure and dynamics on inelastic scattering cross sections can be adequately described through the phonon density of states (DOS). The phonon DOS is a probability density function of the population of available vibrational modes in energy, and it is typically the fundamental input for calculating S(α,β). Probable variation in the spectral shape of the phonon DOS may be established which characterizes uncertainties in the physics models and methodology employed in its production. Through Monte Carlo sampling of perturbations from the reference phonon spectrum, an S(α,β) covariance matrix may be generated. With appropriate sensitivity information, this can be propagated to generate covariance data for differential and integral inelastic scattering cross sections. In this work, hexagonal graphite is used as an example material for the purpose of demonstrating procedures for analyzing, calculating and representing uncertainty information for thermal neutron inelastic scattering data. (authors)