Analysis of Sample Irradiation Experiments in Phénix for JEFF-3.0 Nuclear Data Validation

The PROFIL and PROFIL-2 experiments performed in the Phénix demonstration fast reactor irradiated 130 small separate samples containing almost pure isotopes. These highly accurate experiments are a very specific and powerful source of information on the nuclear data of major and minor actinides and several fission products. Their analysis was carried out using the ERANOS-2.0 code system associated to JEFF-3.0 cross-section data, UKFY3.5 fission yield data, and JEF-2.2 decay data. The consistency of the results demonstrates the overall good quality of the actinide nuclear data and experimental techniques used and points out where specific improvement is necessary: fission yields of ²³⁵U on neodymium isotopes; integral capture cross sections of ²³²Th, ²³³U, ²⁴¹Pu, ²⁴²Pu, and ²⁴¹Am (and to a lesser extent, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²³⁷Np); and branching ratios for ²⁴¹Am capture. A similar analysis characterizes the degree of accuracy of the integral capture cross sections of 19 fission products. Future plans include the analysis of two new experiments of the same kind, included in the current Phénix experimental program, and the use of a consistent set (cross sections, fission yields, and decay data) of the latest JEFF-3.1 nuclear data files.