Modernization of the DCHAIN-PHITS activation code with new features and updated data libraries

Ratliff, H.  ; Matsuda, Norihiro  ; Abe, Shinichiro   ; Miura, Takamitsu*; Furuta, Takuya   ; Iwamoto, Yosuke   ; Sato, Tatsuhiko   

This paper details the recent improvements made to the DCHAIN-PHITS code, the activation, buildup, burnup, and decay code coupled to and distributed with PHITS. The recent improvements include the addition of numerous new decay and cross section nuclear data libraries, statistical uncertainty propagation implementation, support for 3-D grid mesh and tetrahedral geometries, reaction tracking, performance improvements, and more. The paper covers the DCHAIN's history, theory, usage, and improvements made to it and also includes example calculations showcasing these improvements. This is the first publication covering DCHAIN since the PHITS group obtained the code and will become the new reference journal paper for DCHAIN-PHITS. (The current reference document for DCHAIN is a JAERI document in Japanese only from 2001.)