SSM perspective
Background
This project is to support a research group at Uppsala University in the research field of nuclear data for applications. Nuclear data research is about measuring microscopic cross-sections and developing theoretical nuclear models to create evaluated nuclear data libraries. These nuclear data libraries are used in different applications such as, nuclear technology, nuclear safeguards, medicine, final repository etc.
This project measured different nuclear reactions and developed theoretical nuclear data models. The experiments were focused on fission reactions. The experiments were performed in different facilities in Europe such as the IGISOL-facility in Jyväskylä (Finland) for proton induced and neutron induced fission.
In the report,” Grunden för en långsiktig kompetensförsörjning inom strålsäkerhetsområdet”, a task on the behalf of the government, it is shown that nuclear technology is a critical research area that needs more funding. Nuclear data is a sub area within nuclear technology that is identified as a critical research area. This research project is to support the national competence in that area.
Results
This project contributed to collaborations between Swedish universities, international research facilities and international organizations such as IAEA and OECD/NEA. This project contributed to 19 publications in international peer reviewed journals, two PhD’s, one new PhD project, 6 master theses, 32 conference papers, multiple national and international meetings. The funding has enabled 5.2 million SEK in funding (including the research funding from this project). This project has contributed to support the national competence within the nuclear data area and areas that are dependent on nuclear data.
Relevance
SSM needs to maintain a national competence within nuclear technology, including nuclear data. The research group at Uppsala University received funding for research within nuclear fission data which are part of SSM’s competence area. The funding has resulted in new competences such as PhD’s, master theses and published articles that contribute to maintain the national competence within nuclear data.
Need for further research
There are needs for further research to maintain the competence within nuclear fission data as stated in the report” Grunden för en långsiktig kompetensförsörjning inom strålsäkerhetsområdet”. The project was finished during 2019, but was not continued in SSM’s research plan 2020. It is recommended to propose a new research project to support the competence within nuclear fission data for 2021 and beyond, as part of the long term support of the national competence in this field.