Contribution to A1: “E” means “Evaluated” in ENSDF Alan Nichols University of Surrey, UK &

1. Contribution to A1: “E” means “Evaluated” in ENSDF Alan Nichols University of Surrey, UK & Manipal University, India January 2013

2. Handling a half-life Anonymous examples January 2013

3. Handling a half-life ENSDF 2001/2008: recommended a half-life value of (38.47 ± 0.05) min adoption of measured value from 1982 1991: recommended a half-life value of (38.47 ± 0.05) min adoption of measured value from 1982 1979: recommended a half-life value of (38.1 ± 0.3) min of uncertain origins; not specified Currently adopted value represents a single subjective judgement by the 1991 “evaluator”, while evaluators in 2001 and 2008 accepted what was done in 1991 Anonymous examples January 2013

4. Handling a half-life ENSDF singular adoption Anonymous examples Limitation of relative statistical weight method 38.44 ± 0.08 min Normalised residual method 38.41 ± 0.06 min Rajeval method 38.43 ± 0.04 min January 2013

5. Handling a half-life Anonymous examples Four outliers removed from final data set for analysis: Limitation of relative statistical weight method 38.37 ± 0.10 min Normalised residual method 38.41 ± 0.04 min Rajeval method 38.43 ± 0.04 min January 2013

6. 62 β− and 269 γ transitions – high-energy γrays (relative Pγ): Anonymous examples January 2013 24 high-energy gammas omitted from ENSDF (3.75 to 5.23 MeV)

7. High-energy γ transitions 24 high-energy gammas omitted from ENSDF (3.75 to 5.23 MeV) Why? Data adopted wholesale from 1986 reference → loss of higher-energy gammas Why? Year of publication? 1986 compared with 1973/74 Equipment? 1973, 1974 and 1986 appear to be entirely compatible Reasonably good agreement between 1973, 1974 and 1986, while 1986 operated at a lower upper-energy cut off High-energy nuclear levels lost entirely from proposed structure Of some importance in decay heat calculations for irradiated fuel – 24 high-energy gammas represent 55 keV addition to total average gamma energy (and 55 keV subtraction from total average beta energy) Anonymous examples January 2013

8. others significant number of instances in which the crucial number in the databases assembled by ENSDF evaluators turns out to be year of publication of measurements – most recent data adopted simply on the basis of more recent date over which the work was undertaken, and assumption that advances have occurred (equipment/understanding), while all earlier studies are effectively and often most unfairly rejected Anonymous examples January 2013

9. Problem of available number of mass chain evaluators V maintenance of regular effort to cover needs overall, there is a squeeze on time in order to undertake a healthy number of mass chain evaluations per annum ENSDF January 2013

10. “E” in ENSDF does not mean “Compilation” or “Brief Glance” January 2013