1. NAME AND TITLE

DCHAIN v1.3: Code System for Radioactive Decay and Reaction Chain Calculations.

2. CONTRIBUTOR

Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho, through the Energy Science and Technology Software Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

3. CODING LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER

ANSI C; Many computers (C00640MNYCP01).

4. NATURE OF PROBLEM SOLVED

DCHAIN calculates the time-dependent daughter populations in radioactive decay and nuclear reaction chains. Chain members can have non-zero initial populations and be produced from the preceding chain member as the result of radioactive decay, a nuclear reaction, or both. Parent-daughter equilibrium times and relative activities at equilibrium can also be calculated. Program input can be supplied interactively or read from ASCII data files. Chain members can have non-zero initial populations and be produced from the preceding chain member as the result of radioactive decay, a nuclear reaction, or both. Extensive on-line help is available by entering "?" or "help" in response to any input request.

5. METHOD OF SOLUTION

The calculation method involves solving a generalized form of the Bateman equations.

6. RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS

Default configuration limits the number of decay/reaction chain members to 15 (this can be changed by editing a configuration parameter and recompiling). Results must be saved in a file in order to obtain hard-copy output.

7. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME

DCHAIN is interactive. Results are essentially instantaneous.

8. COMPUTER HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

The included executable is for use on personal computers running DOS v2.1 or higher. The code may be recompiled on any computer which has an ANSI C capable compiler. The "character cell" user interface should be compatible with any computer terminal or terminal emulator (support of ASCII escape sequences is not required). Memory requirements are minimal; less than 100KB under MS-DOS.

9. COMPUTER SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

An ANSI C compiler is required. An executable file created with Microsoft C++ v6.0 under Windows 98 on a Pentium III is supplied for use on personal computers. The program can be re-compiled to run on any platform that supports ANSI C. To date, it has been compiled and tested on the following systems:

Microsoft C++ v6.0 under Windows 98 on a Pentium III

VAX/VMS V5.x and V6.0 using VAX C V3.1

OpenVMS/AXP V1.5 using DEC C V1.3

ULTRIX V4.3 using MIPS Systems C V2.10

DG/UX Release 5.4R2.01 using GNU C V2.3.3

IBM/AIX V3.2.5 using XLC Compiler

10. REFERENCES

a: Included in documentation:

L. V. East, "DCHAIN: A User-Friendly Computer Program for Radioactive Decay and Reaction Chain Calculations," INEL Informal Report EGG-NRP-11289 (May 1994).

b: Background information:

H. Bateman, "Solution of a System of Differential equations Occurring in the Theory of Radioactive Decay and Reaction Chain Calculations."

"American National Standard for Information Systems - Programming Language C," ANSI X3.159-1989.

11. CONTENTS OF CODE PACKAGE

The referenced document in (10.a) and one DS/HD (1.44 MB) diskette are included. The diskette, written in DOS format, contains source files, sample data and, their related output files, and a PC executable.

12. DATE OF ABSTRACT

August 1995, revised October 2000.

KEYWORDS: MICROCOMPUTER; WORKSTATION; ISOTOPE INVENTORY