Breakthrough nuclear data processing tool can work faster with high accuracy

To make advancements in nuclear science, researchers across the globe conduct various experiments each year, often using particle accelerators.

The nuclear data collected during such experiments is of great importance, as it provides valuable insights into the properties of different particles and their interactions.

Accurate analysis of this data is also vital for new developments in fields like nuclear power, healthcare, nuclear fusion research, radioactive waste management, etc. However, specialized tools are required to process, analyze, and understand nuclear data with great precision.

A team of international researchers has developed one such advanced tool called Nucleus++. It is believed to be much faster , more reliable, and highly versatile than existing software used for nuclear data processing and analysis.

“Nucleus++ is designed as a valuable tool for scholars and practitioners in the field of nuclear science.” Our study “offers an in-depth description of Nucleus++, highlighting its main features and anticipated impacts on nuclear science research,” the researchers note .

The many advantages of Nucleus++

This isn’t the first time scientists have proposed software that can decode nuclear data. Several existing tools already serve this purpose, including the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group ( CSEWG ), and Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport ( MCNP ), among others.

However, most of these tools focus on only specific tasks. For instance, CSEWG is dedicated to the evaluation and compilation of nuclear reaction cross-sections.

MCNP, on the other hand, is mainly used for simulating the movement of neutrons , photons, and electrons as they travel through various materials.

Unlike these traditional tools, Nucleus++ supports a wide range of nuclear data tasks, such as evaluation, simulation, and validation—all in one platform. It has a modular design, which allows for the integration of multiple nuclear models, enabling a more thorough analysis.

Moreover, to make the best of this ability, the study authors have integrated Nucleus++ with NUBASE , one of the largest databases of atomic nuclei and nuclear properties.

All of this makes Nucleus++ an effective tool for studying nuclear data in great detail, comparing experimental nuclear masses with predictions from different mass models, and offering greater versatility than tools designed for specific types of nuclear data.

Better-understood nuclear data unlocks many doors

The researchers suggest that a deeper and clearer understanding of nuclear data through tools like Nucleus++ could trigger positive changes in various fields.

For instance, it could lead to drastic improvements in many existing therapies and medical imaging technologies that involve the use of electromagnetic waves and radioactive isotopes.

Accurate insights into nuclear data might also contribute to making nuclear fusion more feasible and nuclear energy more greener.

Plus, it might enable scientists to unravel many unsolved mysteries associated with fundamental forces and particles that created the universe.

Hopefully, Nucleus++ will fulfill all these expectations, and bring positive changes in numerous sectors including healthcare and clean energy.

The study is published in the journal Nuclear Science and Techniques .