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Consistency of Neutron Cross-Section Data, SN Calculations, and Measured Tritium Production for a 14-MeV Neutron-Driven Sphere of Natural Lithium Deuteride

William A. Reupke, D. W. Muir, J. Narl Davidson

Nuclear Science and Engineering / Volume 82 / Number 4 / December 1982 / Pages 416-428

Technical Paper / dx.doi.org/10.13182/NSE82-A21456

We present algorithms, describe a computer program, and give a computational procedure for the statistical consistency analysis of neutron cross-section data, SN calculations, and measured tritium production in 14-MeV neutron-driven integral assemblies. Algorithms presented include a reduced matrix manipulation technique suitable for many-group, 14-MeV neutron transport calculations. The computer program incorporates these algorithms and is expanded and improved to facilitate analysis of such integral experiments. Details of the computational procedure are given for a natural lithium deuteride experiment performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Results are explained in terms of calculated cross-section sensitivities and uncertainty estimates. They include a downward adjustment of the 7Li(n,xt) 14-MeV cross section from 328 ± 22 to 284 ± 24 mb, which is supported by the trend of recent differential and integral measurements. It is concluded that with appropriate refinements, the techniques of consistency analysis can be usefully applied to the analysis of 14-MeV neutron-driven tritium production integral experiments.