A Survey of Nuclear Data Deficiencies Affecting Nuclear Non-Proliferation

A general survey was administered across various academic and research institutions in order to identify the most significant nuclear data deficiencies affecting applications in nuclear non-proliferation. In recent years, such deficiencies have become increasingly apparent in the nuclear non-proliferation community where the accurate interpretation of physical applied nuclear measurements rests on the availability of nuclear data which are fit for this purpose. Well-known examples include those in key applications in non-proliferation such as special nuclear material characterization through neutron multiplicity measurements, spent fuel assay techniques, and ?-ray spectroscopy for isotope identification among others. The preliminary results of the survey reported in this paper will serve as initial documentation of some of the informal - but informed - backroom discussions on both recurring and non-common nuclear data discrepancies as they relate to non-proliferation. This would help future differential/integral measurements and evaluation campaigns in finding additional justification for targeting specific reactions and nuclides to help improve the quality of existing nuclear data libraries relative to these applications.