The increasing importance of Prompt Gamma-ray ActivationAnalysis (PGAA) in a broad range of applications is evident, and has beenemphasized at many meetings related to this topic (e.g., TechnicalConsultants' Meeting, Use of neutron beams for low- andmedium-fluxresearch reactors: radiography and materialscharacterizations, IAEA Vienna, 4-7 May 1993, IAEA-TECDOC-837, 1993). Furthermore, an Advisory Group Meeting (AGM) for the Coordination of theNuclear Structure and Decay Data Evaluators Network has stated that thereis a need for a complete and consistent library of cold- and thermalneutron capture gammaray and cross-section data (AGM held at Budapest,14-18 October 1996, INDC(NDS)-363); this AGM also recommended theorganization of an IAEA CRP on the subject. The International NuclearData Committee (INDC) is the primary advisory body to the IAEA NuclearData Section on their nuclear data programmes. At a biennial meeting in1997, the INDC strongly recommended that the Nuclear Data Section supportnew measurements andupdate the database on Neutron-induced PromptGamma-ray Activation Analysis (21st INDC meeting, INDC/P(97)-20). As aconsequence of the various recommendations, a CRP on "Development of aDatabase for Prompt Gamma-ray Neutron Activation Analysis (PGAA)" wasinitiated in 1999. Prior to this project, several consultants had definedthe scope, objectives and tasks, as approved subsequently by the IAEA. Each CRP participant assumed responsibility for the execution of specifictasks. The results of their and other research work were discussed andapproved by the participants in research co-ordination meetings (seeSummary reports: INDC(NDS)-411, 2000; INDC(NDS)-424, 2001; andINDC(NDS)-443, 200). PGAA is a non-destructive radioanalytical method, capable of rapid or simultaneous "in-situ" multi-element analyses acrossthe entire Periodic Table, from hydrogen to uranium. However, inaccurateand incomplete data were a significant hindrance in the qualitative andquantitative analysis of complicated capture-gamma spectra by means ofPGAA. Therefore, the main goal of the CRP was to improve the quality andquantity of the required data in order to make possible the reliableapplication of PGAA in fields such as materials science, chemistry, geology, mining, archaeology, environment, food analysis and medicine. This aim wasachieved thanks to the dedicated work and effort of theparticipants. The CD-ROM included with this publication contains thedatabase, the retrieval system, the three CRM reports, and otherimportant electronic documents related to the CRP. The IAEA wishes tothanks all CRP participants who contributed to the success of the CRP and the formulation of this publication. Special thanks are due to R.B. Firestone for his leading roll in the development of this CRP and hiscomprehensive compilation, analysis and provision of the adopteddatabase, and to V. Zerkin for the software developments associatedwiththe retrieval system. An essential component of this data compilation isthe extensive sets of new measurements of capture gamma-ray energies andintensities undertaken at Budapest by Zs. Revay under the direction ofG. L. Molnar. The extensive participation and assistance of H.D. Choi isalso greatly appreciated. Other participants inthis CRP were: R.M. Lindstrom, S.M. Mughabghab, A.V.R. Reddy, V.H. Tan and C.M. Zhou. Thanksare also due to S.C. Frankle and M.A. Lone for their active participationas consultants at some of the meetings. Finally, the participants wish tothank R. Paviotti-Corcuera (Nuclear Data Section, Division of Physicaland Chemical Sciences), who was the IAEA responsible officer for the CRP, this publication and the resulting database. The participants aregrateful to D.L. Muir and A.L. Nichols, successive Heads of the NuclearData Section, for their active and enthusiastic encouragement infurthering the work of the CRP.

For many years, nuclear structure and decay data have been compiled and disseminated by an International Network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) evaluators under the auspices of the International Nuclear Data Committee (INDC) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In this lecture I will discuss the kinds of data that are available and describe various ways to obtain this information. We will learn about some of the publications that are available and Internet sources of nuclear data. You will be introduced to Isotope Explorer software for retrieving and displaying nuclear structure and radioactive decay data. The on-line resources Table of Radioactive Isotopes, PGAA Database Viewer, Nuclear Science Reference Search, Table of Isotopes Educational Website, and other information sources will be discussed. Exercises will be provided to increase your ability to understand, access, and use nuclear data.

The prompt gamma-ray data of thermal- neutron captures fornuclear mass number A=26-35 had been evaluated and published in "ATOMICDATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)". Since that time the manyexperimental data of the thermal-neutron captures have been measured andpublished. The update of the evaluated prompt gamma-ray data is verynecessary for use in PGAA of high-resolution analytical prompt gamma-rayspectroscopy. Besides, the evaluation is also very needed in theEvaluated Nuclear Structure Data File, ENSDF, because there are no promptgamma-ray data in ENSDF. The levels, prompt gamma-rays and decay schemesof thermal-neutron captures fornuclides (26Mg, 27Al, 28Si, 29Si, 30Si,31P, 32S, 33S, 34S, and 35Cl) with nuclear mass number A=26-35 have beenevaluated on the basis of all experimental data. The normalizationfactors, from which absolute prompt gamma-ray intensity can be obtained, and necessary comments are given in the text. The ENSDF format has beenadopted in this evaluation. The physical check (intensity balance andenergy balance) of evaluated thermal-neutron capture data has been done. The evaluated data have been put into Evaluated Nuclear Structure DataFile, ENSDF. This evaluation may be considered as an update of the promptgamma-ray from thermal-neutron capture data tables as published in"ATOMIC DATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES, 26, 511 (1981)."

We have measured precise thermal neutron capture {gamma}-ray cross sections {sigma}{sub {gamma}} for all stable Palladium isotopes with the guided thermal neutron beam from the Budapest Reactor. The data were compared with other data from the literature and have been evaluated into the Evaluated Gamma-ray Activation File (EGAF)[1]. Total radiative neutron capture cross-sections {sigma}{sub 0} can be deduced from the sum of transition cross sections feeding the ground state of each isotope if the decay scheme is complete. The Palladium isotope decay schemes are incomplete, although transitions deexciting low-lying levels are known for each isotope. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of the Palladium thermal neutron capture de-excitation schemes using the computer code DICEBOX [2]. This program generates a level scheme where levels below a critical energy E{sub crit} are taken from experiment, and those above E{sub crit} are calculated by a random discretization of an a priori known level density formula {rho}(E, J{sup {pi}}). Level de-excitation branching intensities are taken from experiment for levels below E{sub crit} and the capture state, or calculated for levels above E{sub crit} assuming an a priori photon strength function and applying allowed selection rules and a Porter-Thomas distribution of widths. The calculated feeding to levels below E{sub crit} can then be normalized to the measured cross section deexciting those levels to determine the total radiative neutron cross-section {sigma}{sub 0}. In this paper we have measured {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 102}Pd(n, {gamma})] = 0.9 {+-} 0.3 b, {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 104}Pd(n, {gamma})] = 0.61 {+-} 0.11 b, {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 105}Pd(n, {gamma})] = 21.1 {+-} 1.5 b, {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 106}Pd(n, {gamma})] = 0.36 {+-} 0.05 b, {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 108}Pd(n, {gamma})(0)] = 7.6 {+-} 0.6 b, {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 108}Pd(n, {gamma})(189)] = 0.185 {+-} 0.011 b, and {sigma}{sub 0}[{sup 110}Pd(n, {gamma})] = 0.10 {+-} 0.03 b. We have also determined from our statistical calculations that the neutron capture state in {sup 107}Pd is best described as 2{sup +}(60%)+3{sup +}(40%). Agreement with literature values was excellent in most cases. We found significant discrepancies between our results for {sup 102}Pd and {sup 110}Pd and earlier values that could be resolved by re-evaluation of the earlier results.

Neutron cross-section data are fundamental for the design ofnuclear interrogation systems, the maintenance of nuclear materials andwaste, and the understanding the consequences of nuclear catastrophe. Although a large body of nuclear data exists, it is often old, unreliable, or poorly determined. For several years we have collaborated, as part of an IAEA Coordinated Research Project, to precisely measure thepartial thermal neutron gamma ray cross sections for all elements fromhydrogen to uranium at the Budapest Reactor. These data will replace theunreliable tables of Lone et al [1], still widely in use, and will bepublished as an IAEA TECDOC.

A new library comprising 30 thousand neutron capture gamma rays has been created by combining new measurements on natural elements from Budapest and literature data for all stable isotope targets. All energies and intensities are consistent in that they are based on the chlorine and nitrogen standards, respectively. Accurate neutron binding energies and thermal capture cross-sections could also be inferred for all cases where the level scheme is sufficiently complete. The new data can be used for nuclear structure investigations, reaction model calculations, and a number of applications, such as Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis (PGAA).