The evaluation of basic nuclear physics for applications, or nuclear data, is based largely upon the use of the international reaction physics database EXFOR, which is managed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Network of Nuclear Reaction Data Centres (NRDC), of which the NEA is a core member. The EXFOR database contains all published experiment measurements, regardless of the quality of the data or information regarding the experiment. Experts parse through the many tens of thousands of datasets and modify them, yet all of this implicit knowledge is rarely stored and has no common format.
In close partnership with the IAEA and the NRDC, the NEA has launched a new initiative to create a new format for preserving this information. The initiative will build on several ongoing projects to develop EXFOR interfaces and uncertainty templates in order to deliver updated experimental information and allow the inclusion of subjective judgements. This work will be carried out within the 50th Subgroup (SG50) of the NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC), which had its kick-off meeting on 14-15 September 2020 with 57 participants.
