i NXInternational Atomic Energy Agency

I N

DC

INDC(NDU)-l(S/lfl

INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR DATA COMMITTEEREPORT OF THE FIFTH FOUR-CENTRE MEETING
Moscow, 17-21 November 1969

December 1969

IAEA NUCLEAR DATA SECTION, KÄRNTNER RING 11. A-1010 VIENNAINPC(TOU)-16/N

HEPOHT OP THE FIFTH FOUR-CENTRE MEETING
Moscow, 17-21 November 1969b y A. Lorenz

December 1969

REPORT OF THE FTETH FOUR-CENTRE MEETING
Moscow, 17-21 November 1969

Summary and Highlights
The fifth of a series of nuclear data Pour-Centre*
Meetings has taken place in Moscow, USSR, 17-21 November 1969.
These Pour-Centre Meetings, held about yearly at the site ofone of the centres, serve to coordinate the international effort
in the collection, compilation and dissemination of neutron'datainformation.
The continuous expansion of the centres' neutron datalibraries and the existence of différant computers and data
storage systems in each of the four centres, have demonstrated
the need for an unambiguous and unique inter-face for the datatransmission between the four centres, and for an increase of
efficiency in the international dissemination of neutron data
information.

At the last Pour-Centre Meeting.in December 1968,- continued* The four neutron data centres which form the basis for theinternational cooperation in the field of nuclear data are:the National Neutron Cross Section Center (NNCSC), Brookhaven,
USA; the Neutron Data Compilation Centre (NDCC), Saclay, France ;the Nuclear Data Centre (CJD), Obninsk, USSR; and the IAEA
Nuclear Data Section (NDS), Vienna.

- 1 -general characteristics of a unique system for the inter-centre
exchange of neutron data information had "been formulated.

The

primary objective of the present meeting had been to reach a
final agreement on the details of this exchange system, including
the following essential items:a.

detailed format definitionsb.

neutron reaction classification schemec.

dictionaries required to identify and codify the data
and auxiliary information to be exchanged "between thecentres.
In brief it can be stated that this meeting proceededin an excellent spirit of cooperation and was very successful inachieving this goal and to agree on a series of steps necessary
for the implementation of the exchange system by mid-1970. The
acronym "EXFOR" (Exchange Format) has been adopted as name of thesystem.

It is noteworthy to point out that this system, whichmakes efficient use of the existing computer facilities in thefour centres, is unique and probably the first of a kind in thefield of international cooperation in the nuclear energy field.
One day of the Meeting was devoted to a visit to theInstitute of Physics and Energetics at Obninsk.

In particular,

discussions were held on problems of evaluation and of evaluateddata exchange, and visits were made to the Nuclear Data Centre,
and to the computer and accelerator facilities of the laboratory.

- ii -

- 1 -AGENDA
1. Introductory Remarks and Election of Chairman
2.

Adoption cf Agenda and Meeting Organization

3. Short Reports from Centres
4. Exchange Format(a) Structure(To) Content(c) Dictionaries (except specification of data)
5. Specification of Data(a) Review of existing proposals(b) Correlation with CINDA quantities(c) Adoption of data specification(d) Compiler!s manual
6.

Implementation of Exchange Format(a) Transmission procedures: schedule, mechanism and timing(b) Correction and revision of transmitted data(c) Systematic revision of old SCISRS I and equivalent data(d) Four-Centre Memos for communications on Exchange Format

7. Data Index(a) Nature of Index(b) Automatic extraction of index(c) Phasing in with CINDA(d) Publication and dissemination of index and CINDA
8.

Miscellaneous(a) Interest Profile and standing requests(b) Data for special emphasis - coordinated data reviews(c) Review of Panel Report Recommendations(d) Evaluated Data Libraries at each of the four centres

9«Plans for Future Cooperation(a) Proposal for 1970 programmers1 workshop(b) Date and place of next meeting- 2 -

Meeting Proceedings
1.

The meeting convened on Monday, 17 November 1969, at 9*30 am.
in a meeting room of the Hotel "Ukraine" in Moscow.

There

were present:
A.I. Abramov
V. "Bell(Institute of Physics and Energetics, Obninsk)(NDCC) Head of Centre

A.V. Ignatiuk(CJD)

H.D. Lemmel(NDS)

H.O. Liskien(NDCC)

A. Lorenz(NDS)

S. Pearlstein
V.l. Popov
J.J. Schmidt(NNCSC) Head of Centre(CJD) Head of Centre(NDS) Head of Centre

S.I. Sukhoruchkin
Mr. Klimov(institute of Theoretical andExperimental Physics, Moscow)(USSR State Committee on the Peaceful
Utilization of Atomic Energy)

Mr. I. Tichonov served as interpreter for the participantsfrom the USSR.
2.

After a brief opening statement by G.A. Kornev (USSR State
Committee) and an introductory statement by J.J. Schmidt (NDS),
A. Lorenz (NDS) was elected chairman of the meeting.

The draftagenda, as submitted to the participants prior to the meeting,
was discussed and adopted.
3. Under Agenda item 3 the representatives of each of the four
centres gave short progress reports.

The summaries of thesereports are given in Annex I.
4.

Inasmuch as Agenda items 4 f 5 and 6.namely "Exchange Format","Specification of Data", and "Implementation of Exchange Format",constituted the main topic of this meeting on which agreement had
to be reached, it was decided from the beginning to concentrateon these items and consider items 1 and 8 of the agenda only ifenough time remained.

- 3-

5.

In the course of the year preceding this meeting, a number of
proposals and counter proposals which touched on various aspectsof the Exchange Format, had been written and distributed among
the four centres. A list of these background documents, which
had been prepared by the NDS prior to the meeting, is given in
Annex II.

The chairman then suggested that the main backgrounddocuments to be used as a basis for discussion of agenda items
4 and 5 be:Document No. It"Centre-to-Centre Transmission Format Manual"
by P.M. Attree (NDS), as amended 17 October 19-69

Document Ko.10;"Proposal on Contant of centre-to-centre Transmission Format" submitted by NNCSC, July 1969

Document No.20;"Dictionaries for use with the Exchange Format"
by P.M. Attree (NDS), 11 November I969.

Other papers in the list of background documents were subsequently
introduced to complement and clarify the contents of documents
nos 1, 10 and 20.
6.

The participants then proceeded with a point by point review of
document no. 1, and subsequently of document no. 20, introducingchanges, corrections, additions and deletions where needed.

Thistask, which resulted in the commonly acceptable and comprehensive
descriptions of the structure and content of the Exchange Format
and of the Data Specification (Dictionaries), took most of thetime allowed for the meeting.
7.

It was then agreed by the participants that the two reviewed
documents, viz. the "Centre-to-Centre Transmission Format Manual" (l)and "Dictionaries for use with the Exchange Format" (20), would be
revised by the NDS, taking the decisions reached at this meeting
into account, and distributed to the other centres for theirapproval and comments not later than 16 January 1970.

8.

As a consequence of this review, which covered Agenda items 4 and 5 T
and of the considerations of Agenda item 6. "Implementation of the
Exchange Format", the representatives of the four centres reached- 4a number of conclusions and agreed on a specific schedule forthe implementation of the Exchange Format for routine transmission of nuclear data.

The "Conclusions and. Recommendations

on the Exchange Format" constitutes Annex III to this report.
A timetable for the implementation of the Exchange Format isgiven in Annex IV.
9.

An inherent part of the general subject of the dictionaries forthe use with the Exchange Format (i.e. specification of data) was
the formulation of a practical and self-consistent scheme forneutron reaction classification. Basing their deliberations on
the numerous suggestions proposed in the course of the last year,
the centre representatives concurred on a practicable classification
scheme and developed it within the framework of the ISO-QUANT
formalism (a coding formula used in the Exchange Format to uniquely
identify a specific physical aspect of a neutron induced reaction
on a given isotope).

A detailed description of this classification

scheme will be included in the "Exchange Format Manual", to be
distributed by the NDS by 16 January 1970.
10. Brief consideration was given to Agenda item 6cT viz. the"Systematic revision of old SCISES I and equivalent data".
A plan was proposed by the NNCSC, whereby the four centres would
share the task of revising the old SCISRS I data, held in the
NNCSC files, and of transforming them into the EXFOB format.
However, because of the considerable task at each of the four
centres to adapt to the agreed upon BXFOR system, it was decided
by the participants to postpone this agenda item until the next
Four-Centre Ifeeting.
11. With regard to Agenda item 7 T the representatives of the four
data centres agreed on the desirability of an international
data index but concluded that it was premature to formulate
specific recommendations at this point;

it was felt that thiswould be a timely topic at the time of the next Four-Centre Meeting.

- 5-Note was taken of the preliminary report "by M.H. Kalos, who
served as a short-term consultant to the NDS prior to thisPour-Centre Meeting, with regard to a unified data and "bibliographic index (see Annex 2, document 25).
12.

The topics listed under Agenda item 8 T "Miscellaneous", werediscussed briefly during the remaining time allowed for the
meeting:- The NDS mentioned the initial effort that the centre in Vienna
has started with regard to the compilation of an Interest Profile
in its service area.

A preliminary listing" of this file wasdistributed to the participants.
- The topic of "Data for special emphasis - coordinated data
reviews", was introduced by the NDS. As an illustration ofthis effort a report on the status of the Tr

Capture Cross

Section, written by V. Konshin of the NDS, was distributed tothe participants.
- Because of the shortage of time, the Neutron Data Compilation
Panel Recommendations were not reviewed in the course of themeeting.

The NDS distributed to the participants a copy of theFindings of this panel, published by +he IAEA as Technical
Report No» 100. However, it should be noted that the main topic
of the meeting fulfilled some of the most important recommendations of that Panel.
- The topic of "Evaluated Data Libraries at each of the Four Centres"
was not discussed.
13.

In addition to the topics listed on the Agenda, a few additional
items were introduced for consideration:- It was agreed that the four centres will present a joint paperon the status of the international effort in neutron datacompilation and dissemination at the forthcoming IAEA Conferenceon Nuclear Data, which will "be held at Helsinki, 15-19 June 1970.
Each of the four centres will submit contributions to this joint
paper in the form of a progress report of their own centres to- 6 -

the WDS not later than 1 March 1970. A draft of this .joint
paper will "be circulated "by the ÎIDS to the other centres by
the end of March 1970.
— It was agreed that each centre should provide to each of theHelsinki Conference invited speakers the numerical material
which they would require for their presentation.

This neutron

data information would he provided on request and forwarded
through the established data exchange channels.
- It was also recommended that the four data centres strive tocollect the neutron data presented by the participants of theHelsinki Conference and enter them into their data files.
14«

One day of the Four-Centre Meeting, Wednesday, 19 November, wasdevoted to a visit to the Institute of Physics and 'Energetics (PEl)at Obninsk. During this visit the participants had a chance tovisit the USSR Nuclear Data Centre (CJD), located at that
institute, and discuss problems of neutron data informationexchange.

In addition to V.l. Popov and A.V. Ignatiuk, membersof the CJD centre who participated in the Pour-Centre Meeting,the visitors were introduced to the remainder of the centre staff,
namely:Mr, D.A. Kardashev, Mr. V.V. Surgutanov, Mrs. L.S. Tarasko

and Miss Surkova. Following this visit the staff of the Instituteorganized a seminar on data evaluation which gave an opportunity
to J.J. Schmidt (NDS) to outline the general philosophy of thebasis of Western evaluation work, and to S. Pearlstein (NNCSC)
and M.W, Nikolaev (FEl) to describe the neutron data evaluation
effort in their respective countries. The last part of the day
was devoted to a visit of the computer and accelerator facilities
at that Institute.

15,

As a final recommendation, the meeting participants agreed that:- A Programmers' Workshop be held at the IAEA Headquarters in
Vienna during the week of either 11 or l8 May 1970. The timingof this technical meeting should be such as to allow a most

-7-

effective coordination of the programming effort for the
Exchange Format and the schedule for its implementation.
The next Pour-Centre Meeting be held during the first weekof October 1970, that is 5-9 October 1970, at the site of
the Neutron Data Compilation Centre (NDCC) at Saclay, Prance,

ANNEX I/AREPORT FROM THE NATIONAL NEUTRON CROSS SECTION CENTER
AT BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY, USA
TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
4-Centre Meeting
Moscow, U.S.S.R.
November 17, 1969

Organization
A recent photograph of the NNCSC was distributed to each of theother Centers. An organization chart showing the break-up of the NNCSC
into cross section compilation, evaluation, theory, and computer application was also distributed.

NNCSC Computer
A PDP-10 computer, manufactured by the Digital Equipment Corporation,
was recently installed in a temporary location at the NNCSC. Its fast
memory is 40K - 36-bit words. Two 7-track tape units are used for input
and output of data. Permission to obtain a 9-track tape unit has beenrequested. A 300-per-minute card reader, a 1000-lines-per-minute printer,and a 30-inch CALCOMP plotter are included in the system. Two additional
7-track tape units will be replaced by discs during 1970.
An interactive display unit has been requested from the USAEC.

Compilation Activities
The status of the experimental data files and experience with theauthor-proof system was reviewed. Present computer experiments with
SCISRS-II and the BNL proposed exchange format were described. The useof the codes FIXIT and TRANS were described and examples shown. The
dictionaries presently in use by BNL were distributed.

Evaluation Activities
A preliminary report of 2000 meter-per-second cross sections (to be
published in Nuclear Data) was distributed. Further discussion of this
topic was reserved for the Obninsk visit when Soviet evaluators would
be present.

Future NNCSC Plans
Plans for the automated publication of BNL 400, "Angular Distributions
in Neutron-Induced Reactions," were reviewed. The contents of a short
NNCSC Newsletter to describe recent entries to the experimental and evaluated data libraries were shown in examples that were distributed.

ANNEX l / B

CCDN PROGRESS REPORT

I,

Experimental data

A major development during the past year af CCDN has been
the introduction of the NEU DADA data storage and retrieval system toenable fuller and more rapid use to be made of the SCISRS I f i l e . Thissystem has been developed to make the fullest use of the direct accessstorage features of the 360/30 computer. At present it is available foruse with the current NNCSC/CCDN data library, which also incorporates
the most recent CCDN compilations prepared, as far as possible to theinformation content level of SCISRS I I . Dissemination of data on
request from this library was started in January 1969, and an extended
retrieval facilïty*has been in use since July.
A supporting system of programmes was also developed for
preparing an edited version of the internal data file index for publication
as a CCDN Newsletter. This work involved the checking and correctingof the SCISRS I reference abbreviation and principal author for eachentry in the f i l e , and is required in order to know the precise contentsof the data library and to make possible the subsequent automatic correlationof this library with CIND A. In particular. Newsletter No» 8 was distributedin April 1969 giving details of the library's contents on 15th March 1969, anda revised edition of this Newsletter will be published in November 1969 asNewsletter No. II giving details of the contents of the data library on 15th
October 1969. A consultant is now engaged in making the correlation
between this index and CINDA.
In addition, a modified version of the ECSIL bibliographic systemcalled CREED (Compilation of REferences to Experimental Data) has beendeveloped for use as a bookkeeping system for the CCDN data compilation
activity.
In conjunction with this system development work, there havebeen discussions among physicists (both experimentalists and evaluators)
on extending and defining the amount of supporting information whichshould be compiled for each data set and also on the development of a
new reaction classification scheme. It is intended that agreement onthese developments will be reached in the present four-centre meeting.

Retrievals can be made on any combination of the following
parameter defining data sets: Z , A , reaction, status, method,standard, laboratory, source, year, reference abbreviation andenergy range«

2-

In addition, in order to further the exchange of compiled
experimental data between the four data centres, the CCDN has
placed a contract for the development of computer programmes for thetranslation of data between the NEUDADA transmission format and thefour-centre International Exchange Format. It is hoped that dataexchanged on the basis of this exchange format will be initiated in 1970.
II.

CINDA

In March 1969 a supplement to CINDA 68 was distributed,
while the full 1969 print-out (CINDA 69) was distributed in July. This
print-out included all entries received up to the beginning of May 1969.
The first supplement to CINDA 69 is being prepared in the United States
to a cut-off data for entries of 20th November 1969. A second supplement
to CINDA 69 will be published in the summer of 1970 and replace thepublication of CINO A 70.
Most of the past year's work on CINDA at CCDN has been
devoted to finding and filling gaps in the coverage before about 1962
and to bringing the last remaining European entries in the old format up
to current standards. This has been in preparation for a second attemptduring the coming year to consolidate multiple entries for the same work.
Back coverage will be extended further, both by systematically checking
main journals and by reference to private card files held by K. Parker
and J . Story.
Although other commitments have prevented any changes to
the CINDA programmes, much of the necessary ground work for its automatic
checking against the data file has been done. As an interim measure,
CINDA 69 contained a list of all references from which data had been
stored in the CCDN file at the time of the Centre's Newsletter N o . 8.
Recently lists of CINDA second cards, which do not comply with theagreed format for secondary references, have been distributed to otherdata centres for correction and subsequent re-entry.
CCDN proposals for the reprogramming of CINDA have been
submitted to the other participating centres, and it is intended to define
the physical and operational parts of a new CINDA system before the endof 1969.
III.

Evaluated data

An information sheet giving details of the evaluated data files
which are available at CCDN for distribution in participating countries
was circulated at the end of 1968. Although the distribution list for thisdocument was quite small, several copies were sent to each recipient,
who was asked to arrange circulation and distribution within individuallaboratories of participating countries.

-3

The C C D N received the KEDAK library in card image format
in March 1969, and distribution has now started.
An updated version of the compilation of evaluations of neutron
cross-sections was published in May 1969 as CCDN Newsletter N o . 9 .
A system of programmes has been developed for the storage on
disc of the United Kingdom Nuclear Data Library and for subsequent
retrieval from this file by nuclide or by process. The system also includes
options for plotting cross-section data and for the superposition of evaluatedcross-section data on plots of the available experimental data retrieved
from the data library.

5th November 1969

ANNEX I/C

Report from the IAEA Nuclear Data Section
November
In consideration of the new staff in some of the data centres
this report from the IA3A Nuclear Data Section consists of a review
of its data centre activities within the framework of its overall
responsibilities.
The NDS staff consists at the present time of 17 people,
11 professionals (9 physicists and 2 programmers), 3 computer support
staff and 3 secretaries.

The general aspects of the NDS activities

can be classified into three categories:

A.

-

International Nuclear Data Committee responsibilities-

Peripheral activities-

Data Centre activities.
INDC Responsibilities
These consist of:-Organizing and acting as scientific secretariat tothe yearly INDC meetings.

-

Internal liaison with the IAEA Secretariat-

Distribution of INDC documents-

Maintaining contact with the INDC Liaison Officers-

Maintaining and publishing a current list of nuclear
data correspondents.

B.

Peripheral Activities
This category of activities falls within the sphere of responsibilitiesof the NDS as an integral part of the IAEA.

The major ones among these

activities are:-Organization of Conferences and Panel meetings (e.g. Parisand Helsinki Conferences, Brussels Standards panel)-

Development of ways to provide targets and foils fordeveloping countries-

Establishment of a non-EANDC "BENDA" Bequest List.

Annex i/C

page 2

The activities listed in parts A and B above requireapproximately 3 to 4 man-years. The remaining man-years are devoted
to the data centre responsibilities.
C.

Data Centre Activities
The primary responsibility of the centre is the systematic

coverage of the ÎTDS service area. Por efficiency this service area
has been divided into four geographical areas, each of which iscovered by two physicists.

The sharing of this responsibility is

as follows:-

Latin America:

T. "Byer and P. Mañero-

Asia, and Australia:

A. Lorenz and H.I. Bak-

Eastern Europe:

H.D. Lemrael and V. Konshin-

Middle East and Africa:

L. Hjärne and A. Koster

The normal procedure "by which each of these areas is covered
consists of a number of sequential steps:-

Scanning of reports and journals-

Entry of data into the system or writing author for data-

Simultaneous entry into the CINDU index-

Cross check with CINDA, which results in either an
updating of CINDA or in a new CINDA entry-

Processing and computer input of information-

Proof copies in listing form sent to authors.
Another source of data arises from direct contact with

scientists in the NDS area.
-

Some scientists, by now familiar with the NDS data centre
services, send their data on a voluntary basis.

-

Meetings held at the IAEA Headquarters give the opportunity
to scientists in the NDS area to visit the centre;

at thesame time the data centre personnel participate at these meetings.
-

Missions of the NDS staff to the laboratories and universities
within the NDS service area. Two such field trips have been
conducted (Asia and Australia in 1968, and Latin America in 1969)
and the next one is planned to the Eastern European countries
during the coming year.

Annex i/C

page 3In order to improve the coverage and service of its service
area, and to coordinate the data centre activities with its otheractivities, the NDS has started the compilation of a "users profile"(a document illustrating this effort was distributed at the meeting).
In addition to its data compilation function, the NDS data centre
actively participates in the international CINDA effort.

In thiscontext the NDS carries on a semi-independent CINDA activity which
consists of the following:-

Control and transfer of input from external CINDA readers(primarily the USSR) to the CINDA collection centre.

-

CINDA input resulting from the data coverage at the centre.

-

Independent CINDA literature scanning (which provides a
double check and feed-back to the data compilation effort).

-

Planning, coordination and publication of the CINDA index
in cooperation with the other CINDA centres.
Another data centre activity which has been started within

this past year is the review of data of particular interest for the
benefit of the NDS customers. One such review, completed before
this meeting, is V. Konshin's review of the XT'* capture cross section(published as I N D C ( N D U ) - 1 4 / N ) .

Other reviews, of similar scope, havebeen initiated at the NDS.
In support of all of these activities, the NDS maintains anactive systems planning and programming effort.

In particular,considerable effort has been devoted to the current developmentof the Exchange Format system, both in cooperation with the staff ofthe other centres, as well as within the scope of the development of
its own data storage and retrieval system.

ANNEX l/D

ON THE ACTIVITY OP THE NUCLEAR "DATA CENTRE
OP THE STATE COMMITTEE ON THE ATOMIC ENERGY UTILIZATION
A.I. Abramov, L.N. Usachev

Since the 4-Centre meeting in Vienna in December 1968 our Centre
has continued its activities according to the program describedin Dr, Zolotukhin's paper at the February 1969 Panel on compilation
which was held at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The mainefforts of the Centre staff have been directed toward the developmentof the programs for translating information from IBM tapes onto theM-220 computer tapes and vice versa, as well as to participate in thework on the exchange format which is to be specifically consideredat this meeting.

It should be noted that the exchange format is ofparticular importance to our Centre, as it is supposed to be used
for our internal needs, at least at the beginning of our work.
The 7th issue of the collection of abstracts "Nuclear Physics
Research in the liSSR" was published in spring of 1969. At thepresent time the 8th issue of the Collection of Abstracts and the
6th Bulletin are being prepared for publication. We have also
continued the work on our Centre Data Index which is similar to
CINDU.

In the field of CINDA, during this year 33 cards containing

624 entries had been filled in and sent to Vienna.
In exchange to information of the latest USSR measurement results
and evaluations of neutron data which we have sent to the IAEA,
our Centre has received a considerable amount of information onmagnetic tapes which have been used for the development of the tapetranslation system mentioned above.

Annex l/D

page 2In order to improve the guidance of all the activities on thecollection, handling and dissemination of neutron data information,
the Nuclear Data Committee of the State Committee on the Atomic
Energy Utilization was formed, it replaces the previously acting
Council of the Nuclear Data Information Centre.

The director of

the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (PEI) in Obninsk,
Professor V.A. Kuznetsov, was appointed chairman of this Committee.
The committee members are physicists from different institutes ofour country in which neutron data investigations are carried out;
among them are the academician of the Academy of Sciences of the
BSSR Professor A.K. Krasin, the academician of the Academy of Sciencesof the UkSSr Professor M.V. Pasechnik, Professor P.L. Shapiro (JTNR,
Dubna), as well as the participants of this meeting, Dr. V.l. Popov(FBI, Obninsk), Dr. S.I. Sukhoruchkin (ITEF), Mr. Yu.G. Klimov(State Committee on Atomic Energy Utilization) and the authors of
the present report.

At the Committee's meetings, which take place several times a year,
the following questions are considered:

the state of the nuclear

data compilation and evaluation, the needs for nuclear data forpractical applications, the reports of the Nuclear Data Centre on
its current activities, as well as the review of the current
investigations of the most important nuclear constants.

The proposals

and recommendations of the Committee are taken into consideration
when planning scientific research in different institutes of ourcountry.
All of the practical work on nuclear data collection and disseminationis performed as before by the Nuclear Data Centre of the State
Committee on the Atomic Energy Utilization located at the Instituteof Physics and Power Engineering (PEI) in Obninsk.

The staff of theCentre, headed by Dr. V.l. Popov, consists of several people working
permanently;

in addition a number of PEI employees take part in

helping with various tasks of the Centre,

The permanent working staffof the Centre is involved in the development of computer programs, in
CINDA activity, in the preparation for publication of the Centre'sAnnex I/D

page 3

Bulletin and collection of abstracts, as we?l as in carrying outof routine tasks.
The main effort in the field of nuclear data evaluation and in theanalysis of nuclear data requirements is carried out in different
laboratories of PEI and at other Scientific Institutes. However,
the organization of the evaluation effort demands careful attention
with the aim of continuous improvement.
"We plan to increase the Centre staff to reinforce the above
mentioned trends existing now in the Centre.
to be organized.

Two new groups are

One of them will continue the work on neutron

constants evaluation started by V.l. Popov, and the other one
will ensure mathematical service of the Centre.
At present our Centre uses for its needs the M-220 computer.
As it is known, the tapes for this computer are incompatible with
the IBM tapes which are used in many countries.

This situation

creates considerable difficulties in the exchange of information
with the other data centres. Already in the course of this year
we hope to receive two tape units: one Plessey 5500 and one
IDR type 703 3 designed for operation with 7-track l/2-inch tapes.
Two coordinating groups, consisting of specialists from different
scientific institutes, have been formed in order to effect anefficient working relationship between our Centre and these
institutes, and to coordinate the work being performed at these
institutes with that of the Centre. One of these groups, headed
by Dr. V.G. Zolotukhin, will be engaged in defining and making
a systematic collection of the requirements in the nuclear data
field, and in constructing multi-group systems of neutron constants.
The other group headed by Dr. V.l. Mostovoy, will deal with thecoordination of the nuclear data measurements and with the problemsof experimental data compilation and evaluation.

The suggestions madeby these groups are to be reviewed and taken into consideration at
the meetings of the Nuclear Data Committee.

ANNEX II

Background Documents to the Discussions on the Exchange Format

1.

"Neutron Data Inter-Centre Exchange Format"
Memo from P.M. Attree to Four-Centre meeting participants
dated 9 December 1968.
Later distributed as "Centre-to-Centre transmission Format Manual11
and amended 17 October 1°69. Distributed by P.M. Attree2.

"Dictionaries for use with the Exchange Format"
Memo from P.M. Attree to 4 Centres, dated February 1969
(Replaced by item 20)

3.

"The s p e c i f i c a t i o n and characterization of Neutron Data"
Paper by M. Goldberg presented at Compilation Panel,d t á February 1969

4.

"Index Quantities" (NDU Memo 60) to Goldstein and Goldberg
from L. H jame, dated 15 April 1969

5.

"Quantities". Draft proposal by M. Goldberg - dated 3 April 1969
(NDU Memo 61) (Superseded by item 9)

6.

"Meeting on Quantities at Columbia U. 29 May 69"
from L. Hjärne (NDU Memo 68) (Superseded by item 9)7.

"Iso-Quant Field Proposal", Memo from Cullen to Goldberg(NDTI Memo 69) dated 19 May 69

8.

"Dictionaries" (NDU Memo 70) from L. Hjärne to internal NDIT
distribution, contains NNCSC comments dated 26 June 1969

9.

"Definitions for Neutron Data Specification", submitted by
NNCSC July 69 (NDÏÏ Memo 73) (Supersedes items 5 and 6)

10.

"Proposal on content of centre-to-centre Transmission Format"
submitted by NNCSC July 69 (NDU Memo 74)

11.

Letter H,iärne/Goldberg, dated 21 August 69, as reply to item 10

12.

"Letter re quantities" from Lemmel to Goldberg,
dated 4 September 69 (NDU Memo 78)

13.

Memorandum from Cullen to Goldberg commenting on item 12,
dated 22 September 69

14.

Letter Goldberg/Lemmel (re: quantities) in reply to item 12,
dated 2 October 69 (NDU Memo 84)

15.

Letter Goldberg/Hjäme in reply to item 11, dated 7 October 69

16.

"Quantity Codes and Definitions" by H.D. Lemmel, dated 10 October 69(This supersedes "Quantity Codes Draft Proposal",
dated 28 March I969 = NDU Memo 58)- continued

Annex II

page 2

17.

Letter Lemmel/Goldherg (res quantities) in reply to item 14(NDU Memo 86) dated 6 November 69

18.

"Proposal for a unified quantity format for data, common data,normalization values, etc. ..." "by H.D« Lemmel, dated 7 Nov 69(NDU Memo 89)

19.

"Proposal on the Information Content of Inter-Centre Data Transmission", by Leif Hjärne, dated 7 November 1969 (NDU Memo 85)

20.

"Dictionaries for use with the Exchange Format" by P.M. Attree
as of 11 November 1969 (replaces item 2)

21.

Letter Goldberg/Hjärne dated 2 October 19^9, in reply to item 16
and letter from Hjärne

22.

"Two- and more-dimensional tables" (NDU Memo 79) by Leramel and
Hjärne dated 19 September 1969

23.

"Two- and more-dimensional tables" (NDTJ Memo 83) by P.M. Attree
dated 3 November 1969

24.

"Plans for a unified data and bibliographic index"(NDU Memo 88) by H.D. Lemmel, dated 12 November 196925.

"Eecommendation by M. Kalos on unified data and bibliographic
index" (Note: preliminary version)

26.

"Status" by H.D. Lemmel

27.

"Quantities Compromise", H.D. Lemmel

28.

"Sample of transmission listing", P.M. Attree

29.

"The SCISBS II Cross section classification", N. Tubbs (NDCC)

30.

( s i ) D.E. Gullen, W. Busarello, "BNL programmer's guide to theCentre-to-Centre Transmission Format for Experimental Information",
1 May 1969. Revised August 1, 1969; 2nd revision October 1, I969.

ANNBZ III

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EXCHANGE FORMAT
1. Exchange Formata)Structure and Content
Document No. 1 (exclusive of the dictionary section) as revised"by the meeting participants shall serve as the "basis and guidefor data transmission "between the four centres. This document,
appropriately revised, will "be distributed "by the NDS by
16 January I960.

"b) Changes and Alterations
It was agreed that no changes in the structure of the Exchange
Format will "be allowed without Four-Centre agreement.
c) Name of the System
It was agreed to refer to this system as the 33xchange Format
for inter-centre transmission of nuclear data, and to adopt
the acronym EXFOR for reference to the over-all system.
2.

Data Specification Dictionariesa) Content(1) Document 20, as revised by the meeting participants shallserve as the "basis and guide for the description and codingof nuclear data information into the Exchange Format. This
document, including those revisions and additions which trill
he received "by the NDS "before 1 January 1970, will be
distributed by the NDS to the other four centres not later
than 16 January 1970.
(2) Final comments on the content of the dictionaries should besent by the other centres to NDS not later than 23 January I97O,(3) If this schedule is adhered to, it is anticipated that theinitial correct version of the dictionaries will have been
received "by the four centres "by 1 February 1970.

- continued

Annex IIIb)page 2

Routine Transmission of Dictionaries(1) After the initial transmittal of the revised dictionaries
hy the NDS to the other centres, that is, as of 1 February 1970,
the NDS will continue to transmit a full set of updated
dictionaries to the other three centres every three months.
(2) The keywords (DICTION, ENDDICTION and NODICTION) will he used
hy the NDS for transmission of updated dictionaries whether
they are part of a data transmission or not. Dictionaries may
also "be transmitted "between centres for comparison purposes.
(3) In the case of transmission of Dictionaries and Data in the
Exchange Format to a requestor, care must be taken that theDictionaries are the latest and therefore inclusive of all
terras used in the data transmitted.

c) updating of Dictionaries(1)

To prevent duplications and conflicts, the NDS will have theresponsibility to coordinate the updating of the dictionaries.
New dictionary entries, proposed by any of the centres, will
be sent together with mnemonic terms and their definitions to
the NDS by cable or air mail.

Within three days of theirreceipt, the NDS shall transmit the approved dictionary entries
to all centres simultaneously, in the agreed dictionary format
to permit easy computer handling.

The NDS will be given somelatitude in reformulating the definition, but must not change
the meaning without the approval of the originating Centre.
It will be the responsibility of each Centre to update its own
sets of Dictionaries,(2)

Changes of the Dictionaries which require changes to data
already transmitted cannot be implemented without specificFour-Centre approval.

3. Implementation of Exchange Formata)Implementation Schedule(l) It was agreed that a realistic date to start using the
Exchange Format for the formal transmission of data tapes
would be 1 July 1970.

Annex III

Page 3(2) It was also agreed that the adopted EXFOR system, with its
conventions, is applicable to new data only, where new isdefined as data received by the centres at the time of, orafter, formal transmission of data is initiated.

This,

however, should not preclude any one centre's option to
include or transform "old" data into the Exchange Format
at their own discretion.
It was suggested that a formal agreement, which would specify
the initiation date of data transmission in the Exchange Format,
as well as the mechanism "by which the Exchange Format can "bechanged, should be signed by representatives of the four centresin the course of the month of June (possibly at the Helsinki
Conference).

In this regard the TOS will take the responsibility

to prepare this document, and circulate a draft of this document
to the other four centres not later than 1 June 1970.
(4) A timetable for the implementation of EXFOR is given in Annex IV.
b)

Scope of transmitted data
(1) It was agreed that the scope of routinely transmitted data
(and therefore of the minimum scope of data compiled by any
one of the four centres) will be restricted to the reaction
types considered during this meeting and included, in the"Process/Parameter" dictionary.
(2) It was also agreed, however, that this restriction did notpreclude the use of the transmission format for a wider scopeof data at any one of the four centres, and that an expansionof the scope could be presented for adoption at one of thesubsequent Four-Centre meetings.

c) Routine transmission of data(l) It is anticipated that the exchange of transmission tapes ona routine basis (i.e. after 1 July 1970) will take place at
maximum intervals of three months, with the possibility of
exchanging interim timely data at more frequent intervals.
A stricter schedule, if deemed necessary, could "be agreed
upon at the time of the next Four-Centre meeting.

Annex IIId)page 4

Correction and Revision of Transmitted Data

(1) Other than an agreement to re-transmit a complete work in
the event of partial correction or revision, no specificrecommendation was made at this time.

It was felt that a

specific procedure to correct or revise transmitted data
could be considered after the centres had gained working
experience with the Exchange Format, and should "be agreed
upon at the next Four-Centre meeting.
(2) Other than an agreement to delete a data set from the files
only with the expressed approval of the author, no criteria
to reassign accession numbers or to delete data sets fromthe files under other circumstances, have been agreed uponat this time.
(3) It was suggested that every centre should formulate proposals
for the delete criteria and accession number reassignments inthe course of the next few months, taking into account pertinent
recommendations by data committees.
4.

Trial Exchange Format Transmission(1) It was proposed that an experimental transmission of data beinitiated prior to the formal implementation of the Exchange
Format and after the revised version of the dictionaries had
been distributed.

A tentative date of 28 February 1970 was

set for the initiation of this trial exchange.
(2) It was agreed that this trial transmission tape should containone common set of data in addition to three or more otherrepresentative sets.

The common data set to be prepared byeach of the four centres was agreed to be: Nuc.Phys.
A107 612 1/68 (Differential Inelastic Scattering on Gold,by Barnard et al.).
(3) Each centre is to send three tapes and three listings, oneof each to each of the other centres (the information ">n tapewill have the following specifications: 80 character records,
in unblocked BCD, at 556 BPI, on 7 track tapes).

Annex III

page 5(4) In order to investigate the efficiency of tape transmissions
to the Soviet Union, both NDCC and NNCSC will send two tapes
to the CJD, one to be sent via the NDS (Vienna) and the otherdirectly to the CJD via air mail,(5) It is expected that the transmitted tapes will be at eachof the other centres by 15 April 1970. This schedule should
allow one month for the analysis of the results before the"Programmers' Workshop" scheduled for mid-May 1970.
5.

Compiler's Manual
It was agreed by the participants that an Exchange Format Compiler's

Manual will be indispensable.

During the discussions, it was pointed outthat documents 16 and 19 (see Annex II), as well as documents 1 and 20,
could serve as a basis for such a manual.

The NDS took it upon itself

to formulate an initial draft of this manual by April 1970, and attempt
to arrive at a final draft by the next Pour-Centre Meeting.
6.

Four Centre Communication on the Exchange Format
It was agreed that documented communication between the four centres

will be necessary to allow for the proper distribution and referencing of
all documentation on the Exchange Format.
Two forms of documents have been agreed upon:a) Four-Centre Memos for the communication of proposals, programming
details and other general considerations which touch upon theover-all aspect of the Exchange Format.

This series of memoranda

will be numbered chronologically by each centre, where eachidentifying number will be preceded by the identification numberof the originating data-centre (i.e. 1 for NNCSC, 2 for NDCC,
3 for NDS, and 4 for CJD).
b) Exchange Format Memos for the communication of dictionaries
updating and for the transmittal of Compiler Manual pages. This
series of memoranda will be issued by the NDS only, to each of
the other 3 centres.

ANNEX IV

Timetable for EXFOR Implementation

1 January 1970

Last day NDS will acknowledge revisions andadditions for the EXFOR Manual and Dictionaries

16 January 1970

Distribution of revised EXFOR Manual and
Dictionaries by NDS to other centres2} January 1970

Deadline for other centres to send final revisions
and additions for the EXFOR Dictionaries

1 February 1970

NDS distributes final EXFOR Dictionaries
Start of regular (every 3 months) Dictionary
Transmissions

28 February 1970

All centres send out trial Exchange Format
transmission tapes and listings

15 April 197O

Latest date at which trial EXFOR transmission
will have reached all centres

30 April 1970

NDS sends out initial draft of "Compiler's Manual"
to other centres

mid-May 1970

"Programmer's Workshop"(IAEA Headquartersj Vienna)

1 June I97O

NDS sends out draft of formal agreement for
EXFOR implementation

mid-June 1970

Signing of formal agreement for EXFOR implementation

1 July I97O

Tentative date to start routine transmissionof data using EXFOR

5-9 October 1970

Next Four-Centre Meeting(1IDCC, Saclay)