The Nuclear Data Section is initiating a new Coordinated Research Project (CRP) aimed at providing enhanced nuclear level densities for direct use in theoretical modelling and evaluations of nuclear reaction cross sections. These enhanced data are crucial for a wide range of applications, including energy production, criticality safety, waste management, nonproliferation, nuclear medicine, production of medical radioisotopes and radiation protection, and scientific research.
The first Research Coordination Meeting of the project will take place from 24 to 28 March 2025, at the IAEA Headquarters.
Members of the CRP will gather to discuss the primary and additional research objectives of the project, which include:
- A comprehensive compilation of all useful available experimental information on nuclear level densities, including information on low-lying discrete states, s-wave and p-wave resonance spacing data, and derived experimental nuclear level density data.
- Evaluation of the compiled experimental nuclear level density data with a comprehensive uncertainty analysis.
- Development of global models of level densities (phenomenological and microscopic) that satisfy selected quality criteria.
- Validation of both the compiled experimental nuclear level density data and global models.
- Theoretical insight into the underlying physics to serve as a guide for the improvement of the global models.
- Development of a database of experimental and recommended nuclear level densities for dissemination to the user community.
- Development of an online interface and modern web-based tools for easy access to the nuclear level density data.
- Publications of the technical work, results, and recommendations in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
