The Nuclear Data Program has secured funding of ~$1.2m from the United States Nuclear Data Program (USNDP) to train the next generation of nuclear data evaluators. This initiative is designed to address critical gaps in the availability of future nuclear data evaluators, with a focus on creating and updating essential databases that have far-reaching implications for national security, medical isotope production, nonproliferation, energy, and fundamental sciences like nuclear astrophysics.

The training program will primarily concentrate on developing a comprehensive Nuclear Level Density (NLD) database and updating the existing Photon Strength Function (PSF) database. These two specific types of nuclear data are essential to understanding nuclear interactions, particularly in the quasi-continuum — a region where energy levels within a nucleus are so dense that they cannot be identified individually. The PSF, which measures the probability of photon-induced excitations, and the NLD, which quantifies the number of available energy levels in a nucleus, are crucial for predicting nuclear behavior in scenarios involving unstable nuclei.

Recognizing the importance of accurate and comprehensive nuclear data, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiated a project to improve the global availability of PSF data, resulting in the release of a new PSF database in 2019. Building on this foundation, the IAEA, in collaboration with the Nuclear Science Division and other institutes, aims to establish a dedicated NLD database by 2028. The new USNDP initiative will contribute significantly to this global effort while simultaneously training two emerging scientists to become fully proficient nuclear data evaluators.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Mathis Wiedeking, the trainees will be responsible for the annual update of the PSF database and will be key contributors to the establishment of the NLD database. Through this program, they will gain expertise in the compilation, assessment, and evaluation of quasi-continuum nuclear data, positioning the USNDP at the forefront of quasi-continuum data activities.