New Neutron Cross Section Measurements at ORELA for Improved Nuclear Data

The Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA) was used to measure neutron total and capture cross sections of aluminum, silicon, chlorine, fluorine, and potassium in the energy range from 100 eV to ~600 keV. These measurements were carried out to support the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP). Concerns about the use of existing cross section data in nuclear criticality calculations have been a prime motivator for the new cross section measurements. Our results are substantially different from the evaluated nuclear data files of ENDF/B-VI and JENDL-3.2.