Resonance Parameter Adjustment Methodology Based on Integral Experiment Analysis

A methodology to adjust resonance parameters is developed and tested on the lowest-energy resonances of ²³⁸U, ²⁴⁰Pu, and ²⁴²Pu. It is shown that adjusting the basic nuclear parameters is the only consistent way to adjust infinitely dilute cross sections and to reduce the cross-section deconvolution problem. Taking into account the self-shielding effects enables us to treat different kinds of integral experiments (fast and thermal) and to achieve a statistically consistent adjustment. Also, the standard multigroup cross-section adjustment in the epithermal region can be interpreted as an indication of the required correction of an average reaction rate.