Tens Of mA Research Articles

Thermochronology of the Laojunshan–Song Chai Granite Gneiss Massif (North Vietnam, South China)

A reconstruction of the tectonothermal evolution of the Laojunshan–Song Chai granite gneiss massif (North Vietnam, South China) was carried out, based on summaries of the latest isotopic and fission-track dating results. The recorded wide range (420–465 Ma) of the age of granite gneiss rocks testifies to the long-term existence of a partially molten layer at a depth of 20–30 km for several tens of Ma. By the Devonian–early Carboniferous, a section of the excessively thickened crust was denudated, the massif was exhumated to the level of the upper crust, and isotope systems were “frozen”. The rate of uplift of the rocks of the massif is estimated to be about 0.2–0.5 mm/year. In the further history of the granite gneiss massif, episodes of repeated burial to a depth of about 13 km are recorded, associated with the Indosinian collision. The rocks have experienced metamorphism of the amphibolite-green schist facies, accompanied by tectonic transport in the form of a thrust sheet. Over the next 200 Ma, the uplift of the massif and the erosion of the overlying strata occurred in discrete pulses, during a sequence of active tectonic events. Thus, the thermochronological and P-T history of the Laojunshan–Song Chai massif is a kind of chronicle of regional tectonic–thermal events. In the history of the massif, traces of two orogenic cycles associated with the collision of the Cathaysia and Yangtze blocks in the Lower Paleozoic and the Indosinian collision in the Triassic are recorded.

Development of a high current electron beam facility for compact accelerator neutron source target thermal tests

Target thermal capabilities are one of the major key points for CANS (Compact Accelerator-based Neutron Source) developments. Indeed, high energy (few MeV) and high average current (few tens of mA) proton or deuteron beams are required to produce high thermal neutron flux of 101³ n.cm⁻2.s⁻1 or greater. The targets must therefore absorb and dissipate a high thermal power. In order to make progress on their designs without deuteron or proton beams, we developed a compact electron beamline based on an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) source that permits testing of targets under relevant thermal conditions at power densities up 3 kW. cm⁻2.

Resolving Complex Inner X-Ray Structure of the Gravitationally Lensed AGN MG B2016+112

Abstract We use a Chandra X-ray observation of the gravitationally lensed system MG B2016+112 at z = 3.273 to elucidate the presence of at least two X-ray sources. We find that these sources are consistent with the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) components measured by Spingola, which are separated by ∼200 pc. Their intrinsic 0.5–7 keV source frame luminosities are 1.5 × 1043 and 1.8 × 1044 erg s−1, respectively. Most likely this system contains a dual active galactic nucleus (AGN), but we are possibly detecting an AGN plus a parsec-scale X-ray jet, the latter lying in a region at very high magnification. The quadruply lensed X-ray source is within ±40 pc (1σ) of its VLBI counterpart. Using a gravitational lens as a telescope, and a novel statistical application, we have achieved unprecedented accuracy for measuring metric distances at such large redshifts in X-ray astronomy. This is tens of mas if the source is located close to the caustics, while it is of hundreds of mas if the source is in a region at lower amplification. The present demonstration of this approach has implications for future X-ray investigations of large numbers of lensed systems.

Diffusion of CO2 in Magnesite under High Pressure and High Temperature from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

CO2 transports in the Earth’s interior play a crucial role in understanding the deep carbon cycle and the global climate changes. Currently, CO2 transports inside of the Earth under extreme condition of pressure and temperature have not been understood well. In this study, the molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were performed to study CO2 transports under different CO2 pressures in slit-like magnesite pores with different pore sizes at 350~2500 K and 3~50 GPa are presented. Diffusion of CO2 in magnesite was improved as the temperature increases but showed the different features as a function of pressure. The diffusion coefficients of CO2 in magnesite were found in the range of 9 × 10 − 12 m 2 s − 1 ~ 28000 × 10 − 12 m 2 s − 1 . Magnesite with the pore size of 20~25 Å corresponds to the highest transports. Anisotropic diffusion of CO2 in magnesite may help to understand the inhomogeneous distribution of carbon in the upper mantle. The time of CO2 diffusion from the mantle to Earth surface was estimated to be around several tens of Ma and has an important effect on deep carbon cycle. The simulation of CO2 transports based on the Earth condition provides new insights to revealing the deep carbon cycle in the Earth’s interiors.

Precise astrometry and diameters of asteroids from occultations – a data set of observations and their interpretation

ABSTRACT Occultations of stars by asteroids have been observed since 1961, increasing from a very small number to now over 500 annually. We have created and regularly maintain a growing data set of more than 5000 observed asteroidal occultations. The data set includes the raw observations, astrometry at the 1 mas level based on centre of mass or figure (not illumination), where possible the asteroid’s diameter to 5 km or better, and fits to shape models, the separation and diameters of asteroidal satellites, and double star discoveries with typical separations being in the tens of mas or less. The data set is published at NASA’s Planetary Data System and is regularly updated. We provide here an overview of the data set, discuss the issues associated with determining the astrometry and diameters, and give examples of what can be derived from the data set. We also compare the occultation diameters of asteroids with the diameters measured by the satellites NEOWISE, AKARI AcuA, and IRAS, and show that the best satellite-determined diameter is a combination of the diameters from all three satellites.

Small craters population as a useful geological investigative tool: Apollo 17 region as a case study

Small craters below a few decametres in diameter are ubiquitous on the lunar surface and numbered in billions. Thanks to the expanding availability of global high-resolution imagery, their size-frequency distribution has increasingly been employed as an investigative tool to derive relative or even absolute age estimations of resurfacing events within small regions of geological interest. Based on a combined survey of tens of thousands of craters, this work investigates the ~7–50 meter crater distributions across a wide range of lunar terrains centred around the Apollo 17 exploration region. Data analysis using a wide array of approaches reveals distribution patterns consistent with a complex geochronological scenario, confirming crater Tycho as the source of the main secondary surge, which was followed by seismic-led modification of the small crater population within the Taurus-Littrow Valley, and a possible more recent arrival of small secondaries from the Fabbroni impact some 70 km to the south. This study also confirms that applying standard Absolute Model Ages fits to small craters size-frequency distributions to estimate resurfacing ages will only work for surfaces no older than a few tens of Ma. Using an application of Monte Carlo simulations of crater degradation based on diffusion equations, we matched the cumulative SFD of each area to derive size-dependent diffusivity rates κ. The results produce equilibrium age estimates that vary among the proposed geological units and crater sizes between 10 and 100 m in diameter. This work concludes that the distribution of small craters does not appear to be stochastic in terms of relative size representation, and their use for mapping surface variations in terms of physical properties represents a new tool in the remote sensing investigation of planetary surfaces.

Temperature gradients in targets with high-intensity implantation and their influence on the characteristics of ion-modified layers

This paper is devoted to the study of the gradient temperature field dynamics and distribution in the metal targets irradiated with high-intensity beams of gas and metal ions. The investigations concerned ion implantation modes with the ion beam current density from several tens of mA·cm−2 up to A·cm−2 were investigated. The ion beam power was additionally varied due to the change of ion energy in the range from 0.6 to several keV and the pulse duty factor in the range of 0.2–0.8. The integral temperature of the target was measured with an electrically isolated thermocouple. To measure the dynamic change in the local temperature on the irradiated target a high-temperature pulse pyrometer KLEIBER 740-LO was used. The problem of temperature evolution and metal sample melting under the exposure of a high-intensity repetitively pulsed ion beam was solved numerically using the heat conduction equation written in cylindrical coordinates. Analysis of the experimental data obtained with the use of electrically isolated thermocouple, pulse pyrometer, and numerical simulation revealed the presence of significant gradient temperature fields both over the surface and along the depth of targets irradiated by high-intensity ion beams.

Energy-Efficient Computing With Probabilistic Magnetic Bits—Performance Modeling and Comparison Against Probabilistic CMOS Logic

This paper focuses on the design, performance modeling, and evaluation of probabilistic logic using superparamagnetic nanomagnets for which there exists a strong interplay between deterministic dynamics and intrinsic thermal noise. The switching element in the spin domain is chosen as the giant spin-Hall effect (GSHE) device that operates based on the dipolar coupling phenomenon in a two-magnet system to achieve low-energy ( $\approx ~1.3$ fJ/b) and low-power ( $\approx ~0.5~\mu $ W) switching characteristics. The use of spin currents on the order of a few tens of mA/ $\mu $ m2 in the subcritical regime to operate the GSHE device yields nondeterministic switching behavior with probability of correctness less than 100%. Therefore, the proposed technique allows us to trade off circuit accuracy for tremendous reduction in energy and power dissipation. In this paper, we identify the required dimensions and material parameters of the read–write units to ensure robust magnetic dipolar coupling for reliable operation of the GSHE switch. Then, through Monte Carlo simulations, we evaluate the probabilistic switching behavior of the GSHE switch as a function of the input spin current amplitude and pulsewidth for various orientations of the magnetization vectors. The delay of the GSHE switch is quantified using a probability distribution function owing to the randomness imparted to the dynamics by intrinsic thermal noise of the nanomagnets. The relationship between the probability of correctness and the energy dissipation of the GSHE switch is quantified. The results are extended to evaluate the performance and circuit error rate of complex logic gates, such as NAND and NOR, constructed using the GSHE switch. It is shown that unlike the probabilistic CMOS (PCMOS) logic, the circuit error rate in the GSHE logic becomes a function of the input vector combination and the prior state of the switch. These nuances are captured in the compact model of the circuit error rate of multiple-input GSHE logic developed in this paper. The performance of the probabilistic GSHE logic is compared with that of PCMOS logic at the 14 nm technology node. Since the noise generation process in PCMOS logic has a limited bandwidth of tens of megahertz and consumes tens of microwatt power, the peripheral circuitry becomes prohibitive. By utilizing the inherent thermal stochasticity, nanomagnets provide a clear advantage to implement probabilistic computing platform targeted toward error-tolerant applications such as those from the image processing and machine learning domains.

P-GaN HEMTs Drain and Gate Current Analysis Under Short-Circuit

Gallium Nitride High-Electron-Mobility Transistors (GaN HEMTs) are promising devices for high-frequency and high-power density converters, but some of their applications (e.g., motor drives) require high robustness levels. In this scenario, 600 V normally-off p-GaN gate HEMTs are studied under Short-Circuit (SC) by experiment and physics-based simulations (drift-diffusion and thermodynamic models). A strong drain current reduction (>70% after saturation peak) and high gate leakage current (tens of mA) are observed. All studied devices withstand the SC test at bus voltages up to 350 V, while fail at 400 V. Furthermore, its understanding is crucial to improving SC ruggedness in p-GaN HEMTs.

MoS2 -HgTe Quantum Dot Hybrid Photodetectors beyond 2 µm.

Mercury telluride (HgTe) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have been developed as promising materials for the short and mid-wave infrared photodetection applications because of their low cost, solution processing, and size tunable absorption in the short wave and mid-infrared spectrum. However, the low mobility and poor photogain have limited the responsivity of HgTe CQD-based photodetectors to only tens of mA W-1 . Here, HgTe CQDs are integrated on a TiO2 encapsulated MoS2 transistor channel to form hybrid phototransistors with high responsivity of ≈106 A W-1 , the highest reported to date for HgTe QDs. By operating the phototransistor in the depletion regime enabled by the gate modulated current of MoS2 , the noise current is significantly suppressed, leading to an experimentally measured specific detectivity D* of ≈1012 Jones at a wavelength of 2 µm. This work demonstrates for the first time the potential of the hybrid 2D/QD detector technology in reaching out to wavelengths beyond 2 µm with compelling sensitivity.

Fluorite as an Sm–Nd geochronometer of hydrothermal processes: Dating of mineralization hosted in the Strel’tsovka uranium ore field, eastern Baikal region

The possibility of using hydrothermal fluorite as an Sm–Nd geochronometer is based on the results of an REE pattern study of this mineral (Chernyshev et al., 1986). As a result of REE fractionation, in many cases, the Sm/Nd ratio achieves a multifold increase compared with its level in terrestrial rocks, and the radiogenic shift of the 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratio reaches 10–20 eNd units over a short time interval (as soon as tens of Ma). This is a necessary prerequisite for Sm–Nd isochron dating of fluorite. Zonal polychrome fluorite from a vein referred to the final stage of large-scale uranium mineralization at the Sterl’tsovka deposit in the ore field of the same name located in the eastern Transbaikal region has been dated using the 143Nd/144Nd method. To optimize isochron construction, local probes with high and contrasting Sm/Nd ratios have been sampled from the polished surfaces of two samples, taking into account the REE pattern of zonal fluorite. Sm–Nd isochron dating has been carried out separately for each sample. The 147Sm/144Nd и 143Nd/144Nd ratios vary within the intervals 0.5359–2.037 and 0.512799–0.514105, respectively. Two isochrons, each based on six fluorite probes, have been obtained with the following parameters, which coincide within 2σ uncertainty limits: (1) t = 134.8 ± 1.3 Ma, (143Nd/144Nd)0 = 0.512310 ± 13, MWSD = 0.43 and (2) t = 135.8 ± 1.6 Ma, (143Nd/144Nd)0 = 0.512318 ± 10, MWSD = 1.5. The mean age of fluorite based on two isochron datings is 135.3 ± 1 Ma. Comparison of this value with the most precise dating of pitchblende related to the ore stage in the Strel’tsovka ore field (135.5 ± 1 Ma) shows that four mineralization stages, distinguished by geological and mineralogical data, that were completed with the formation of polychrome fluorite veins 135.3 ± 1 Ma ago, represent a single and indivisible hydrothermal process whose duration does not exceed 1 Ma.

Current evolution and plasma density space distribution in the reflex discharge with ring cathodes

In this paper the numerical model of direct current gas discharge in drift-diffusion approximation is considered. For two-component plasma the processes of the gas discharge development in the reflex geometry with ring cathodes at a helium pressure of 35 mTorr are studied. We investigate the influence of: (a) the boundary conditions on the dielectric, (b) the electron temperature and (c) the coefficient of the secondary ion-electron emission on the I–U curve of the discharge. In a magnetic field of 50 Gauss the impact of the discharge voltage U = 300–700 V on the evolutionary process of the discharge is examined. The effect of diffusion on maintaining steady state discharge is researched. The parameters of the existence of a high-current (tens of μA) and low voltage (tens of mA) discharge modes are defined.

Late neoproterozoic igneous complexes of the western Baikal-Muya Belt: Formation stages

The paper presents new geological, geochemical, and isotopic data on igneous rocks from a thoroughly studied area in the western Baikal-Muya Belt, which is a representative segment of the Neoproterozoic framework of the Siberian Craton. Three rock associations are distinguished in the studied area: granulite-enderbite-charnockite and ultramafic-mafic complexes followed by the latest tonalite-plagiogranitegranite series corresponding to adakite in geochemical characteristics. Tonalites and granites intrude the metamorphic and gabbroic rocks of the Tonky Mys Point, as well as Slyudyanka and Kurlinka intrusions. The tonalites yielded a U-Pb zircon age of 595 ± 5 Ma. The geochronological and geological information indicate that no later than a few tens of Ma after granulite formation they were transferred to the upper lithosphere level. The Sm-Nd isotopic data show that juvenile material occurs in rocks of granitoid series (ɛNd(t) = 3.2–7.1). Ophiolites, island-arc series, eclogites, and molasse sequences have been reviewed as indicators of Neoproterozoic geodynamic settings that existed in the Baikal-Muya Belt. The implications of spatially associated granulites and ultramafic-mafic intrusions, as well as granitoids with adakitic geochemical characteristics for paleogeodynamic reconstructions of the western Baikal-Muya Belt, are discussed together with other structural elements of the Central Asian Belt adjoining the Siberian Platform in the south.

An intrinsically safe facility for forefront research and training on nuclear technologies — Burnup and transmutation

The currently dominant open fuel cycles have resulted in the gradual accumulation of (relatively) large quantities of highly radioactive or fertile materials in the form of depleted uranium, plutonium, minor actinides (MA) and long-lived fission products (LLFP). For low-activity wastes a heavily shielded surface repository is required. Spent fuel can be instead directly buried in deep geological repositories or reprocessed in order to separate U and Pu and eventually also MA and LLFP from other materials. These elements can be further burnt by modern reactors but not yet in sufficient quantities to slow down the steady accumulation of these materials in storage. Using ADS, the residual long-lifetime isotopes can be transmuted by nuclear reactions into shorter-lifetime isotopes again storable in surface repositories. However, in order to perform transmutations at a practical level, high-power reactors (and consequently high-power accelerators) are required; particularly, a significant transmutation can be reached not only by increasing the beam current to something of the order of a few tens of mA, but also by increasing the beam energy above 500MeV in order to reach the spallation regime. Such high-power infrastructures require intermediate test facilities with lower power and higher safety level for the investigation of their dynamics and transmutation capabilities: the ADS proposed in this study could accomplish many of these constraints.

Temporally, spatially, and spectrally resolved barrier discharge produced in trapped helium gas at atmospheric pressure

Experimental study was made on induced effects by trapped helium gas in the pulsed positive dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating in symmetrical electrode configuration at atmospheric pressure. Using fast photography technique and electrical measurements, the differences in the discharge regimes between the stationary and the flowing helium are investigated. It was shown experimentally that the trapped gas atmosphere (TGA) has notable impact on the barrier discharge regime compared with the influence of the flowing gas atmosphere. According to our experimental results, the DBD discharge produced in trapped helium gas can be categorized as a multi-glow (pseudo-glow) discharge, each discharge working in the sub-normal glow regime. This conclusion is made by considering the duration of current pulse (few μs), their maximum values (tens of mA), the presence of negative slope on the voltage-current characteristic, and the spatio-temporal evolution of the most representative excited species in the discharge gap. The paper focuses on the space-time distribution of the active species with a view to better understand the pseudo-glow discharge mechanism. The physical basis for these effects was suggested. A transition to filamentary discharge is suppressed in TGA mode due to the formation of supplementary source of seed electrons by surface processes (by desorption of electrons due to vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules, originated from barriers surfaces) rather than volume processes (by enhanced Penning ionisation). Finally, we show that the pseudo-glow discharge can be generated by working gas trapping only; maintaining unchanged all the electrical and constructive parameters.

Transmission electron microscopy of omphacite and other minerals in eclogites from the CCSD borehole, China: indications for their deformation and temperature history

Seven eclogite samples from 223 to 584 m depths in the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling main borehole (CCSD-MH) in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UH P M) terrane, Eastern China, were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in order to characterise their microstructures. We observed, among others, omphacite, jadeitic diopside, garnet, amphibole, rutile, Na-rich plagioclase, quartz, K-feldspar, analcime, and diamond (contamination). Omphacite shows a well-known diffusion-controlled disorder-order phase transition which gives rise to antiphase domains (APDs). In our samples we observed a variation of the APDs’ size between ~5 nm and 2 μm which is correlated with the content in jadeite (Jd) component. The broad maximum of ~1–2 μm APDs’ size is centred on Jd50. This size drops to ~5–10 nm for Jd37 and Jd66. The size variation can be explained with the T -path of the respective omphacites. While the large APDs of the omphacites formed and coarsened during subduction and exhumation, the smallest APDs formed and grew during exhumation. In contrast to other eclogite occurrences, deformational defects in omphacites from the CCSD-eclogites are mostly very rare. Occasionally, stacking faults parallel to (010), free dislocations with the Burgers vector [001] and those with 1/2[110] connected with antiphase domain boundaries (APBs), deformation twins on (100) and small-angle grain boundaries were observed. The explanation is that most CCSD-omphacites were strongly affected by recrystallisation, which took place above 600 °C during subduction up to its maximum temperature of ~750 °C and continued during exhumation above 600 °C into the regime of amphibolite facies for several tens of Ma. Garnet shows very rarely crystal defects, while amphiboles usually displayed dislocations and chain multiplicity faults. Rutile of one sample, which contained a few percent Fe, showed fully coherent, nano-sized platelets (Guinier-Preston zones) parallel to (100) and (010). The existence of fluids during retrogression is documented by K-feldspar and analcime in quartz.

An integrative geologic, geochronologic and geochemical study of Gorgona Island, Colombia: Implications for the formation of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province

The genesis of the Caribbean Large Igneous Province (CLIP) has been associated to the melting of the Galapagos plume head at ~ 90 Ma or to the interaction between the plume and the Caribbean slab window. Gorgona Island, offshore western Colombia, is an accreted fragment of the CLIP and its highly heterogeneous igneous suite, ranging from enriched basalts to depleted komatiites and picrites, was assumed to have formed at ~ 89 Ma from different part of the plume. Here we present new geologic, geochronologic and geochemical data of Gorgona with significant implications for the formation of the CLIP. A new set of 40Ar– 39Ar ages documents a magmatic activity spanning the whole Late Cretaceous (98.7 ± 7.7 to 64.4 ± 5 Ma) followed by a shallower, picritic pyroclastic eruption in the Paleocene. Trace element and isotope geochemistry confirm the existence of an enriched (EDMM: La/Sm N ≥ 1 and εNd i of 5.7 to 7.8) and a depleted (DMM: La/Sm N < 1 and εNd i of 9.5 to 11.3) mantle sources. A progressive increase in the degree of melting and melt extraction with time occurred in both groups. Petrologic modeling indicates that low but variable degrees of wet melting (< 5%) of an EDMM can produce the LREE-enriched rocks. Higher degree of melting (> 10%) of a mixed DMM + EDMM (40 to 60%) may reproduce the more depleted rocks with temperatures in the range of ambient mantle in absence of plumes. Our results contradict the notion that the CLIP formed by melting of a plume head at ~ 90 Ma. Multiple magmatic pulses over several tens of Ma in small areas like Gorgona, also recognized in other CLIP areas, suggest a long period of diffuse magmatism without a clear pattern of migration. The age span of this magmatism is broadly concurrent with the Caribbean slab window. During this time span the Farallon oceanic lithosphere (later becoming the Caribbean plate) advanced eastward ~ 1500 km, overriding the astenosphere feeding the proto-Caribbean spreading ridge. This hotter mantle flowed westward into, and mixed with, the opening mantle wedge, promoting increasing melting with time. The fortuitous occurrence of a plume passing through the slab gap area cannot be excluded but not required to produce the observed composition and degree of melting.

Low noise constant current source for bias dependent noise measurements

A low noise constant current source used for measuring the 1∕f noise in disordered systems in ohmic as well as nonohmic regime is described. The source can supply low noise constant current starting from as low as 1 μA to a few tens of milliampere with a high voltage compliance limit of around 20 V. The constant current source has several stages, which can work in a standalone manner or together to supply the desired value of load current. The noise contributed by the current source is very low in the entire current range. The fabrication of a low noise voltage preamplifier modified for bias dependent noise measurements and based on the existing design available in the MAT04 data sheet is also described.

Study of scandium targets for production of monoenergetic neutron fields with energies below 100 keV

In order to develop reference low-energy monoenergetic neutron fields, the 45Sc(p,n) reaction is being studied within the framework of a scientific cooperation between NPL, PTB, IRMM and IRSN. The first study is dedicated to the selection of the most suitable backing material for scandium targets. It must be able to sustain high proton beam currents to compensate for the low cross section of the 45Sc(p,n) reaction. Targets with backings made of Mo, Al, W, Ag, Pt and Ta were irradiated during several hours at a few tens of mA at the NPL neutron reference facility. Target thickness and composition were analysed with the RBS method at the AIFIRA facility before and after NPL irradiations leading to the selection of tantalum as the best choice for backing material.

Neutron transport simulation (selected topics)

Neutron transport simulation is usually performed for criticality, power distribution, activation, scattering, dosimetry and shielding problems, among others. During the last fifteen years, innovative technological applications have been proposed (Accelerator Driven Systems, Energy Amplifiers, Spallation Neutron Sources, etc.), involving the utilization of intermediate energies (hundreds of MeV) and high-intensity (tens of mA) proton accelerators impinging in targets of high Z elements. Additionally, the use of protons, neutrons and light ions for medical applications (hadrontherapy) impose requirements on neutron dosimetry-related quantities (such as kerma factors) for biologically relevant materials, in the energy range starting at several tens of MeV. Shielding and activation related problems associated to the operation of high-energy proton accelerators, emerging space-related applications and aircrew dosimetry-related topics are also fields of intense activity requiring as accurate as possible medium- and high-energy neutron (and other hadrons) transport simulation. These applications impose specific requirements on cross-section data for structural materials, targets, actinides and biologically relevant materials. Emerging nuclear energy systems and next generation nuclear reactors also impose requirements on accurate neutron transport calculations and on cross-section data needs for structural materials, coolants and nuclear fuel materials, aiming at improved safety and detailed thermal-hydraulics and radiation damage studies. In this review paper, the state-of-the-art in the computational tools and methodologies available to perform neutron transport simulation is presented. Proton- and neutron-induced cross-section data needs and requirements are discussed. Hot topics are pinpointed, prospective views are provided and future trends identified.