ENDF/B-VII.0 Data Testing for Three Fast Critical Assemblies

In this report we consider three fast critical assemblies, each assembly is dominated by a different nuclear fuel: Godiva (U235), Jezebel (Pu239) and Jezebel23 (U233) [1]. We first show the improvement in results when using the new ENDF/B-VII.0 data [2], rather than the older, now frozen, ENDF/B-VI.8 data [3]. We do this using what we call a one code/ multiple library approach, where results from one code (MCNP) are compared using two different data libraries (ENDF/B-VII.0 and VI.8). Next we show that MCNP results are not specific to this one code by using what we call a one data library/multiple code approach; for this purpose we invited many codes to submit results using the ENDF/B-VII.0 data; the most detailed results presented in this report compare MCNP and TART. The bottom line is that we have shown that using the new ENDF/B-VII.0 data library with a variety of transport codes, for the first time we are able to reproduce the expected K-eff values for all three assemblies to within the quoted accuracy of the models, namely 1.0 +/- 0.001. This is a BIG improvement compared to the results obtained using the older ENDF/B-VI.8 data library. Another important result of this study is that we have demonstrated that currently there are many computer codes that can accurately use the new ENDF/B-VII.0 data

Proton imaging of an electrostatic field structure formed in laser-produced counter-streaming plasmas

We report the measurements of electrostatic field structures associated with an electrostatic shock formed in laser-produced counter-streaming plasmas with proton imaging. The thickness of the electrostatic structure is estimated from proton images with different proton kinetic energies from 4.7 MeV to 10.7 MeV. The width of the transition region is characterized by electron scale length in the laser-produced plasma, suggesting that the field structure is formed due to a collisionless electrostatic shock

Detection of Concealed Mercury with Thermal Neutrons

In the United States today, governments at all levels and the citizenry are paying increasing attention to the effects, both real and hypothetical, of industrial activity on the environment. Responsible modern industries, reflecting this heightened public and regulatory awareness, are either substituting benign materials for hazardous ones, or using hazardous materials only under carefully controlled conditions. In addition, present-day environmental consciousness dictates that we deal responsibly with legacy wastes

Precompound nucleon angular distributions in the continuum

Angular distributions for nucleon induced reactions (incident energies 14 to 90 MeV) leading to precompound nucleon emission in the continuum (emitted particle energies 9-70 MeV) are calculated based on nucleon-nucleon scattering kinematics for an incident nucleon on a Fermi gas. Analytic expressions due to Kikuchi and Kawai are used for the single scattering kernel. The geometry dependent hybrid model is used to generate the differential cross sections for first, second, etc. order scattering, these weightings being used to fold the single scattering kernel. Results are found to reproduce all experimental angular distributions quite well at angles in the 20/sup 0/ to 90/sup 0/ range. Ad-hoc modifications to approximate quantal effects and Coulomb deflections are explored, but the results do not seem to offer a consistent means of reproducing back angle yields, and give generally poorer results at very forward angles