Parameter sensitivities in nuclear reaction cross-section calculations

The present work explores the relationships between measured neutron reaction data and the parameters of nuclear models used to calculate comparable results as well as to interpolate and extrapolate into domains where measurements are not feasible. In particular, dimensionless sensitivity parameters are exploited as a potential method for quantifying these relationships. A dimensionless sensitivity parameter is defined as the ratio of the fractional change in a calculated observable physical quantity to a specific fractional change of a selected nuclear model parameter. The basic approach is described and it is illustrated by considering several neutron activation reactions associated with stable isotopes of chromium.