The UK Nuclear Data Network

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

We propose to create a UK Nuclear Data Network (UKNDN) that establishes a strong connection between academia, industrial partners, national labs, regulators and UK representatives on international nuclear data committees (IAEA, NEA) in order to facilitate the measurement, analysis and dissemination of industrial nuclear data. Industrial nuclear data are defined as those data that underpin the safety and economics of industrial nuclear operations and processes. This proposal addresses the Energy Global Challenge by setting up a network that will respond to the nuclear data needs of industry, particularly as new reactor technologies are developed. The network will provide support for small-scale and scoping projects as well as travel and opportunities for secondment for students and early-career researchers. It will facilitate UK involvement in the international experimental nuclear data effort.

Planned Impact

The impact of this proposal will be that the UK establishes a Nuclear Data Network that links those research groups that make the measurements and the end users of the resulting data.
This includes the National Labs (NNL, NPL, CCFE and AWE), the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme physics working group (MOD, Rolls-Royce, AMEC Foster Wheeler and NNL), Universities and many of the leading nuclear organizations (BAE Systems, EDF Energy, Public Health England, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuvia Ltd, Office of Nuclear Regulation and Sellafield Ltd). The Network will provide a mechanism for the UK users of Nuclear Data to request measurements that are of direct relevance to the needs of the industry, through the UKNSF, which will act as a board of governance for the Network. The proposal will also have the benefit of allowing the UK to re-engage with the international Nuclear Data community through a coordinated approach to data collection and evaluation.

Publications

10 25 50

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Babiano-Suarez V (2020) 80 Se(n,?) cross-section measurement at CERN n TOF in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Bacak M (2020) A compact fission detector for fission-tagging neutron capture experiments with radioactive fissile isotopes in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

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Barbagallo M (2018) Experimental setup and procedure for the measurement of the 7Be(n,p)7Li reaction at n_TOF in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
ST/N00244X/1 31/03/2016 30/03/2022
1910955 Studentship ST/N00244X/1 02/07/2017 29/06/2021 Rhiann Canavan
 
Description Measurement of cross-sections and gamma emission nuclear data for variety of nuclear applications in the fields of energy production and radiotherapy.
Exploitation Route Measured nuclear data are evaluated and contribute to databases that are used by the nuclear industry.
Sectors Energy

Healthcare

 
Description The data measured contribute to databases that are used by the nuclear industry. This is particularly important in the design of new reactor technologies and new nuclear fuels.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Energy,Healthcare
Impact Types Economic

 
Description ISS (d,pF) Collaboration 
Organisation Chalmers University of Technology
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Project: "Creation of heavy elements in neutron-star mergers", Grant: SEK 29,600,000 over five years Principal investigator: Docent Andreas Heinz, Chalmers University of Technology, 2020.
Collaborator Contribution Contribution to manpower and equipment for the (d,pF) programme
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2020