Advances in metrology of neutron radiation in reactors and accelerators

Conclusions

Certain conclusions can be drawn from a generalization of the materials of the 2nd All-Union Conference on Metrology of Nuclear Radiation in Reactors and Accelerators.

• 1. For the first time in the USSR, the foundations have been established for a State system of metrological principles for neutron measurements (direct, indirect, and composite) in nuclear physics facilities. An experimental basis of this system is provided by the Specials State Standard of neutron flux density, standard neutron activation and fissionable material samples, and reference neutron sources (fields) based on reactors and accelerators. The production of the first sets of standard samples has been started, and the first reference sources using static and pulsed reators have been created.

• 2. Great activity is observed in studies of nuclear constants, especially of their compilation and evaluation.

• 3. A trend can be noted towards the standardization of neutron measuring techniques in nuclear physics facilities, of the certification of reference sources based on reactors and accelerators, and of the calibration of measuring equipment with the aid of these sources.

• 4. Special progress has been made in the comparison of the results of neutron measurements in nuclear reactors. This kind of metrological activity should be further developed as a method of selecting the most promising and advanced measuring means and techniques and of improving the reliability of results. The method should be extended to accelerators and, in particular, to neutron generators.

• 5. There are certain advances in the establishment of unified methods for error estimation, especially in the case of systematic errors.