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A new evaluation of the neutron cross-section standards is now underway. This evaluation has been supported by the Working Party on International Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC), the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG), and an International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Program (CRP). The CRP has had the dominant role in producing these evaluations. An important goal is to produce the standards needed for the upcoming new ENDF/B-VII library. Since most neutron cross-section measurements are made relative to neutron cross-section standards, the standards evaluation is of crucial importance. The standard reactions to be evaluated are: H(n,n), 3He(n,p), 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α1γ), C(n,n), Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f), and 238U(n,f). These standards should receive international acceptance to ensure that all evaluation projects use the same set of standards. The last complete evaluation of the standards dates back almost 20 years. In the meantime quite a number of new and improved measurements have occurred for the cross-section standards. International efforts are presently underway to update the experimental database and to improve the evaluation process. Due to the need for high-energy standards, the energy range is being extended to 200 MeV for some of the cross-section standards. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured the transmission of neutrons through iron spheres with several different neutron sources. The D(d,n) reaction and the 15N(n,p) reaction were found to be the best candidates for nearly monoenergetic sources at energies below 11 MeV. We have used a quasi monoenergetic source with 3.0-, 5.0-, and 7.0-MeV deuterons incident on a deuteron gas cell and 5.1-MeV protons incident on a 15N gas cell. The Ohio University Beam Swinger Facility was used in these measurements. This allowed a single fixed detector in a well-shielded time-of-flight (TOF) tunnel to be used for measurements at all angles. This allows a great reduction in the background from room scattered neutrons. The detector, either NE-213 or lithium glass, was calibrated relative to the neutron spectrum from the B(d,n) or the Al(d,n) source reaction. These spectra have been measured relative to the primary neutron standard, 235U(n, f). The transmitted neutrons have been measured for all source reactions at several angles. The data will be reported as the number of neutrons versus time-of-flight since multiple scattering does not allow the energy to be determined accurately by time-of-flight. We have also measured the source reaction at several angles to enhance the modeling of the source spectrum. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a methodology developed for analysis of a time-of-flight (TOF) experiment performed for examination of iron cross sections. The methodology combines measurements from several experimental setups and Monte Carlo simulations. Neutron TOF spectra are obtained via the spherical shell transmission method with iron shells of two thicknesses and using both 15N(p,n) and D(d,n) neutron source interactions at various beam angles. Experimental data were used to determine a source distribution for Monte Carlo Simulations. Comparison of experiments and calculations identified discrepancies over several energy ranges that may be attributed to inaccuracies in the Fe-56 inelastic scattering cross-section. To further investigate this issue, the Fe-56 scattering cross sections were adjusted, and used in the Monte Carlo simulations. The results of these simulations demonstrate that the adjusted cross-sections result in significant reductions (as large as ∼40%) in the discrepancies between experimental and calculated spectra The adjusted cross-sections were collapsed into a multigroup form and applied to a 1-D Pressure Vessel fluence calculation, which resulted in noticeable effects. Further studies are warranted. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is given of the progress achieved in an IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project (CRP) to improve the cross-section standards. The objectives of the CRP, started in 2002, were initially the understanding of the origin of the strong uncertainty reduction in R-matrix model fits and the improvement of the evaluation methodology. These aims were extended in 2003 to the preparation of new evaluations for the standard 6Li(n,t), 10B(n,α), 10B(n,α1), 197Au(n,γ), 235U(n,f), and 238U(n,f) reactions. The methodology, codes, and experimental database developed by Poenitz and Hale for the ENDF/B-VI standards evaluation were taken as the basis for the new evaluation. The major results achieved by the CRP participants include the testing and intercomparison of a number of codes that can be used in the standards evaluation, updating the database of experimental results, analysis of the reasons leading to the strong uncertainty reduction in model fits, and a study of the bias in evaluated data caused by the Peelles’s Pertinent Puzzle (PPP) effect, which has been widely discussed in the nuclear data community since the ENDF/B-VI standards evaluation was completed. Preliminary results of the new standards evaluation are shown. The use of the new 235U(n,f) cross section leads to better consistency in calculations of some important integral experiments. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]