New zirconium nuclear data for reactor performance modelling

锆是核反应堆运行和未来反应堆设计的关键结构材料；用于燃料棒的包层，并考虑与先进的燃料基质如氢化锆一起使用。为了准确地预测中子与锆同位素的相互作用，需要改进的物理数据。该项目将与欧洲委员会吉尔设施的中子截面实验相结合，并成为锆核数据国际重新评估的一部分。该学生将与雅各布斯的行业专家合作，评估新数据对核电厂运行预测的影响。

Zirconium is a key structural material in operating nuclear reactors and future reactor designs; used in cladding for fuel rods and considered for use with advanced fuel matrices such as zirconium hydride. Improved physics data is needed to accurately predict interactions of neutrons with the zirconium isotopes. This project will integrate with neutron cross section experiments at the European Commission's Geel facility and be part of an international re-evaluation of the zirconium nuclear data. The student will work with industry experts at Jacobs to assess the impact of the new data on predictions for operating nuclear plants.