Some Test Calculations with the IAEA Photonuclear Data Library

Abstract

As a result of an international cooperation a recommended file of photonuclear reactions of 164 isotopes became available. The formal and practical quality of these data are examined by using them for calculation of photoneutron production in thick targets bombarded by photons and electrons. The Monte Carlo calculations are accomplished with a recent version of the MCNP code enhanced with a photonuclear capability. The energy range of our investigations is from the photonuclear threshold up to 150 MeV. In some cases, a comparison between our calculations and a new version of the MCNPX code, recently updated with the LANL photonuclear data files (12 isotopes) is established. Our results are also compared with the experimental data when available. These data include early measurements of the total neutron yields from thick targets bombarded by electrons as a function of energy, target thickness and atomic number, also, recent measurements of ²³⁸ U photofission yields. We show that in general the agreement between the experimental and calculated results is satisfactory. However, a number of particular examples when it is not the case seems to exist.

Keywords:

• photonuclear data
• photoneutron production
• photofission