FISPACT-II

FISPACT II is advanced nuclear simulation software providing predictive, spectral and temporal simulation methods using comprehensive nuclear data libraries.

Overview

FISPACT-II is an enhanced multiphysics, inventory and source-term code system developed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Culham. It provides advanced predictive, spectral and temporal simulation methods for neutron and charged-particle interactions using comprehensive nuclear data.

FISPACT II has applications in:

  • magnetic and inertial confinement fusion
  • advanced fission Generation IV and beyond
  • other advanced energy and fuel systems
  • high energy and accelerator physics
  • medical applications, including isotope production
  • earth exploration and astrophysics
  • homeland security
  • materials science
  • nuclear maintenance and decommissioning
  • … and more

FISPACT-II is capable of various analysis techniques including:

  • activation analysis
  • transmutation calculations
  • depletion and burn-up simulations
  • decay modelling
  • source definition
  • full inventories
  • displacement per atom (dpa) calculations
  • Kerma calculations
  • Primary damage (PKA) spectra
  • gas / radionuclide production simulations

Key benefits

  • nuclear data agnostic – you can pick the best nuclear data library for your neutron, proton or other calculations
  • Application Programming Interface (API) allows easy and safe linkage to other codes
  • validated – used on ITER, DEMO and STEP for fusion, and on fission power plants (e.g. characterising fuel rods, shut down dose calculations)
  • pathways analysis (where does key nuclei come from) can help with material engineering
  • can identify radioactive emission of a given sample
  • can predict decay heat and gamma dose

Software details

FISPACT II supports users in:

  • full processing of ENDF-6 nuclear data with complete TENDL data and covariances
  • self-shielding factors calculation
  • temperature dependence modelling
  • thin / thick target yields
  • robust pathway analysis
  • Monte-Carlo sensitivity and uncertainty quantification
  • covariance data propagation
  • for a given neutron flux, activation/transmutation of fusion materials/metals/alloys can be calculated
  • radiation shielding calculations can be completed to help design new power plants
  • displacements per atom (DPA) can be calculated to quantify radiation damage in materials from nuclear collisions and reactions
  • shut down dose calculations for fission and fusion power plants to help design safe operations and shielding needs
  • waste calculations for the running of future fusion and fission power plants
  • medical radio-isotope sector – understanding design, target needs and safe operation
  • ability for FISPACT-II to model waste processing using irradiation
  • waste assessment for nuclear materials prior to decommissioning

Technical specifications

Programming languages

C-LANGUAGE, C++, FORTRAN 2003, PYTHON

Libraries used

TENDL-2017, HEIR-0.1, ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0, CENDL-3.1, GEFY-6.1

Processing tools

PREPRO, NJOY, CALENDF

System requirements

The memory requirement at run-time is case dependent, dynamic allocation, usually not above 1 Gb of RAM.

64-bit Linux, macOS and Windows executables, built using GNU Fortran compilers on:

  • macOS Ventura (Intel)
  • Ubuntu 22.04
  • Windows 10

The bin subdirectory contains FISPACT-II executable compiled under different operating systems (Linux, macOS and Windows).

FISPACT II has been tested at the NEA Data Bank on:

WINDOWS 10

COMPUTER: Dell Precision with Intel(R) Core (TM) i7-7600U CPU at 2.80 GHz, RAM: 16.0 GB

LINUX – Ubuntu 20.04

COMPUTER: Dell Precision M6800 with Intel(R) Core (TM) i7-4800MQ CPU at 2.70 GHz x 8, RAM: 16.0 GB

Licence information

The NEA Data Bank Computer Program Service offers a licence that does not include commercial applications.

Commercial and Research licence options

Contact us to discuss tailored solutions for organisations.

Licences are non-transferable, site specific and for multiple users.

FISPACT-II ItemCommercial licenceResearch licence
– Executable and all data sets
– One year maintenance and upgrades
£35,000£15,000
Annual maintenance and upgrades£5,500£3,250
TrainingPrice on applicationPrice on application

Please note that:

  1. Research licences are only for academic or public sector research establishments.
  2. Research licences at a nominal fee are available for UK universities and close. collaborators
  3. Research licences specifically forbid use in contract work.

Other code distribution

The OECD-NEA Data Bank offers a licencing and distribution service through the various members states. The version 4.0 is available as NEA-1890:

https://www.oecd-nea.org/tools/abstract/detail/nea-1890

The US ORNL Radiation Safety Information Computational Center distributes the code as CCC-836:

https://rsicc.ornl.gov/codes/ccc/ccc8/ccc-836.html

These distributions come with specific licence agreements which include many limitations, for example forbidding use in commercial applications. Those interested in using FISPACT-II for such applications should contact us.

Support and resources

Online resources

The gitlab nuclear data resource repository is located at https://www.oecd-nea.org/dbdata/fispact/.

Other useful tools and resources are available at the FISPACT-II github repository: https://github.com/fispact/.

Documentation

Download the latest version of the FISPACT-II manual (PDF, 2MB).

Download the previous version of the FISPACT-II manual (PDF, 2MB).

Download the latest version of the FISPACT-II API manual (PDF, 1MB).

Read FISPACT-II: An Advanced Simulation System for Activation, Transmutation and Material Modelling on the ScienceDirect website.

Training

The NEA Data Bank organises training courses on the FISPACT-II code with the UKAEA. Course material and presentations can be found on the FISPACT-II GitHub Pages.

The UKAEA regularly organises training courses through the NEA Data Bank. You can find more information on the currently scheduled events online.