Use of probability tables for propagating uncertainties in neutronics

M. Coste-Delclaux (1) , Cm. Diop (1) , S. Lahaye (1)

1 CEA-DES (ex-DEN) - CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire)

Probability tables are a generic tool that allows representing any random variable whose probability density function is known. In the field of nuclear reactor physics, this tool is currently used to represent the variation of cross-sections versus energy (neutron transport codes TRIPOLI4, MCNP, APOLLO2, APOLLO3, ECCO-ERANOS...). In the present article we show how we can propagate uncertainties, thanks to a probability table representation, through two simple physical problems an eigenvalue problem(neutron multiplication factor) and a depletion problem.

Keywords: Random variable; Probability tables; Uncertainties; Nuclear data; Monte Carlo simulation

Domains: Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]; Nuclear Theory [nucl-th]

M. Coste-Delclaux, Cm. Diop, S. Lahaye. Use of probability tables for propagating uncertainties in neutronics. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 2017, 102, ⟨10.1016/j.anucene.2016.11.044⟩. ⟨cea-02421890⟩