Development and assessment of a new radioactive decay database used for dosimetry calculation

Abstract

The present paper discusses the technical issues and a scheme for their resolution before undertaking the development of a new radioactive decay database to succeed ICRP38. The scheme consists of the following procedures. (1) The consistency of nuclear structure data files used as input to the computer code EDISTR is established by referring to the latest nuclear parameters and by comparing the computed energies of emitted radiations with total decay energy. (2) A method for calculating detailed spectra of X rays and Auger electrons is incorported into EDISTR to enhance the treatment of atomic relaxation processes initiated by electron vacancies from internal conversion and electron capture. (3) Quality assurance of the compiled data is undertaken by comparisons with experimental data and other decay databases prepared from different computer codes and libraries. JAERI and ORNL are cooperating to implement the scheme in order to assemble a comprehensive radioactive decay database including over 1000 nuclides.