Nuclear Data Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O.Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Memo CP-D/621
Date:
To:
From:

3 March 2010
Distribution
N. Otsuka, V. McLane, O. Schwerer, S. Dunaeva

Subject:
Reference:

Updated of LEXFOR “General Quantity Modifiers”
Memo CP-D/584

Below is a proposed update of LEXFOR entry for “General Quantity Modifiers”.
Main revisions are 1) prohibition of any combination from A, FCT, REL, RAW and MSC,
2) Order of general quantity modifier in SF8, 3) Change in definition of RAW.
Dictionary update is also proposed (usage of ARB-UNITS).

General Quantity Modifiers
The general quantity modifiers (REACTION SF8) are flagged with ‘GENQ’ in
Dictionary 34 and are listed in the beginning of Archive and TRANS dictionary 236.
They can be added to any quantity without requiring an entry in Dictionary 236.
Some of them require clarification:
1. A modifier: used when a measurement is made on a target of natural isotopic
abundance and the reaction that produces the reaction product specified is known, but
the data have not been corrected for the natural abundance of the target nuclide. Themodifier (A) is used if the compiler is uncertain whether the data have been corrected
for natural abundance of the target nuclide.
2. FCT modifier: used when the data has been multiplied by a defined factor notcontaining another quantity (e.g., an arithmetic factor or a branching ratio).
Explanatory free text is compulsory. If the factor contains another quantity, theappropriate reaction combination is to be used. except in the case of a ratio of thesame quantities (see REL modifier).
The modifier FCT must not be used for factors for which specific codes have been
introduced (such as isotopic abundance; see item 1, above) (See Products).
3. REL modifier: used in the case of shape normalized data, that is, data proportional
to the quantity given; the normalization factor is unknown. The data unit ARB-UNITS(arbitrary units) should be used. The REL modifier always needs explanation in freetext even if authors state only that the data are given in “arbitrary units”.
An explicit ratio defined under the REACTION keyword does not require the modifier
REL and will usually have the units NO-DIM. (See Ratios).
The modifier REL must not be used for factors for which specific codes have been
introduced (such as isotopic abundance, branching ratio; see item 1 and 2, above).

4. RAW modifier: used for raw (e.g. raw gamma spectra) or uncorrected data (e.g.
data not corrected for background, efficiency). Compilers must determine whether
appropriate corrections are made for the data (especially for transmission and reaction
yield). The data unit ARB-UNITS is used when data are not normalized. such asreaction yields, raw gamma spectra, etc.
The modifier RAW must not be used for data for which specific codes have been
introduced, e.g., for transmission data. (See Raw Data).
5. MSC modifier: used for unusual data types, indicating that the exact definition ofthe quantity is given in free text following the REACTION code. This modifier should
be used with discretion because the data will not be fully machine-retrievable. The
data unit ARB-UNITS is used when data are not normalized.
Notes on A, FCT, REL, RAW and MSC
a. Only one modifier of A, FCT, REL, RAW or MSC may be coded in SF8.If there
are two or more applicable modifiers, the widest modifier (A < FCT < REL <RAW < MSC) is used.
Example,DA,,MSC for nuclear interaction part of dσ/dΩ in arbitrary unit
,DE,,RAW for uncorrected neutron spectrum in arbitrary unit
,TRN,,RYL/RAW for uncorrected reaction yieldb. If a data set contains several subsets or "curves", distinguished by different
values of a certain parameter (e.g. incident energy, angle, level energy) and all
given in arbitrary units (ARB-UNITS), they may be combined in one subentry
only when they have a common normalization factor to an absolute value. The
same applies to multiple reactions when they are all given in ARB-UNITS. In
case of doubt, the data should go into separate subentries.
c. When the data unit ARB-UNITS is used, the subentry must contain two or moredata points.
d. The data unit is always ARB-UNITS when the modifier REL is applied. Themodifiers RAW and MSC may be used with ARB-UNITS or absolute data unit (e.g.
MB).
6. AV modifer: used for data measured as a function of energy or angle and averaged
over a given energy interval or angular range.
7. Spectrum average modifiers: used for data measured over a broad incident energyspectrum. For such data one of the spectrum modifiers are used BRA, BRS, EPI, FIS, FST,MXW, and SPA; see Spectrum Average for details. The spectrum average modifiermust be coded before other general quantity modifiers.
Example,FY,,MXW/REL for Maxwellian averaged fission yield in arbitrary unit

8. TT modifier used for data averaged over energies through a thick target, see
Thick/Thin Target Yields.

Dictionary 25 (Data Units)
ARB-UNITSarbitrary units
To be combined with the REL, RAW or MSC modifiers in theREACTION.

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