1. NAME AND TITLE

FERRET: Least-Squares Solution to Nuclear Data and Reactor Physics Problems.

2. CONTRIBUTOR

Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

3. CODING LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER

Fortran IV; UNIVAC.

4. NATURE OF PROBLEM SOLVED

FERRET is a tool for data analysis. It provides a way to combine related measurements and calculations in a consistent evaluation.

5. METHOD OF SOLUTION

FERRET is a very general least-squares code which is oriented towards problems frequently encountered in nuclear data and reactor physics. It emphasizes the proper treatment of uncertainties and correlations and provides quantitative uncertainty estimates.

6. RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS

This version of FERRET can simultaneously adjust 20 separate multigroup cross sections and neutron fluxes in an 80 group structure. It is also possible to adjust an 80 point representation of a cross section sigma(E) by applying an indefinite number of microscopic and integral cross section measurements. Any one microscopic data set could contain a maximum of 35 values; the code could be redimensioned to extend this size. This Univac version utilizes a PARAMETER statement which provides very flexible dimensioning.

7. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME

Execution times are extremely problem dependent. FERRET usually runs in a few minutes or less on the Univac 1100/44 computer.

8. COMPUTER HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

FERRET was originally written for a CDC Cyber-74 computer. This version is operable on the Univac computers. It uses four disk or drum units as scratch files. Two of these can be replaced by direct core access for additional flexibility.

9. COMPUTER SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

A Fortran IV compiler is required.

10. REFERENCE

F. Schmittroth, "FERRET Data Analysis Code," HEDL TME 79-40 (September 1979).

11. CONTENTS OF CODE PACKAGE

Included are the referenced document and one (1.2MB) DOS diskette which contains the source code, sample problem and output, flux spectrum, and dosimeter cross section input.

12. DATE OF ABSTRACT

March 1984.