Statistical uncertainty quantification of probability tables for unresolved resonance cross sections

Tada, Kenichi   ; Endo, Tomohiro*

The self-shielding effect in the unresolved resonance region has a large impact on the fast- and intermediate-spectrum reactors. The probability table method is widely used for continuous-energy Monte Carlo calculation codes to treat the effect. In this method, a table provides the probability distribution of the cross-section for a nuclide in the given energy grid points. The table is generated by averaging with a lot of "ladders" which represent pseudo resonance structures. Though many nuclear data processing codes require the number of ladders as an input parameter to generate the probability table, an optimal number of ladders has not been investigated. Our previous study revealed that the suitable number of ladders depends on the nuclide and its resonance parameters. This result indicates that it is very difficult for users to find the optimal number of ladders. We developed the calculation method of the statistical uncertainty for the probability table generation.