The latest version of the Chinese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library, CENDL-3.2, was released on June 12. [Photo/CNNC]

Independently developed by China, the latest version of the Chinese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library -- the CENDL-3.2 -- was released on June 12, according to experts.

The library is deemed as an important achievement in the field of nuclear data research in China.

Experts said the release of CENDL-3.2 is of great significance to enable research and development in fundamental nuclear physics, nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, isotope production and other nuclear applications -- as well as to further promote the international cooperation of nuclear data evaluation, with more contributions from China.

The joint efforts to develop the library was coordinated by the China Nuclear Data Center at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, in collaboration of more than 10 domestic universities and institutes in the framework of China Nuclear Data Coordination Network, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Nankai University, Northwest University, etc., as well as various institutes of the Chinese Academy of Science and the China Academy of Engineering Physics.

As an important enabler for nuclear S&E, evaluated nuclear data library is a bridge connecting fundamental research and various nuclear technology applications. It is expected to play an important role in the fields of national economic construction and scientific research, according to experts.

Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD NEA) said that they would test CENDL-3.2 via their benchmarking systems and then include it in the data bank.

The CENDL-3.2 evaluates 272 nuclides, compared with 240 in the previous version, with data types and quality greatly improved.

The evaluation of CENDL-3.2 is a product not only from applications of the self-developed state-of-the-art nuclear reaction model calculation code series, but also an adoption of the latest experimental measurements, including those measurements by Chinese scientists.

The neutron reaction data for 134 nuclides have been re-evaluated and tested, including Lithium-6, Lithium-7, Iron-56, Uranium-235, Uranium-238, Plutonium-239, and Plutonium-240 -- all essential in nuclear energy and nuclear technology applications.

Through the benchmarking tests of 1,230 cases with different configurations, the CENDL-3.2 has shown a significant improvement to predict the behavior of Uranium and Plutonium fission systems, experts added.

Since 1991, the Chinese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library has been one of the five internationally recognized mainstream nuclear databases and is highly recognized by the international nuclear data community.