Published 2014
NDS Staff Publication
Fitting prompt fission neutron spectra using Kalman filter integrated with Empire code
- 1. Nuclear Data Section, IAEA
Description
Prompt fission neutron spectra (PFNS) have proven to have a significant effect on criticality of
selected benchmarks, in some cases as important as cross-sections. Therefore, a precise determination
of uncertainties in PFNS is desired. Existing PFNS evaluations in nuclear data libraries relied
so far almost exclusively on the Los Alamos model. However, deviations of evaluated data from
available experiments have been noticed at both low and high neutron emission energies. New experimental
measurements of PFNS have been recently published, thus demanding new evaluations.
The present work describes the effort of integrating Kalman and EMPIRE codes in such a way to
allow for parameter fitting of PFNS models. The first results are shown for the major actinides
for two different PFNS models (Kornilov and Los Alamos). This represents the first step towards
reevaluation of both cross-section and fission spectra data considering both microscopic and integral
experimental data for major actinides.