Marco T Pigni

Bio

Marco has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics. He developed methodology to generate covariance information for cross sections in the low and fast neutron energy regime and, recently, also for fission product yields. Having a special interest in nuclear reaction theory, Marco works on nuclear data evaluations that used direct and compound nucleus reaction mechanisms. His contribution to the development and release of the U.S. evaluated nuclear data library (ENDF/B) is prominent for light, medium and relevant heavy fissile nuclei. Moreover, Marco is currently leading evaluation efforts to develop a new nuclear data work area for safeguards focusing on charged-particle-induced reaction such as (α,n).

Marco lives in Knoxville, TN, and in his free time he enjoys swimming and cycling.

Research activities

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Nuclear Data Group
  • R-Matrix analyses (nearly 20) and related uncertainty quantification from compound systems of light nuclei to heavy fissile actinides (^233,235U and ²³⁹Pu) supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
  • Fission product yield analyses for the entire library (about 50 nuclei) within Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) programs
  • Uncertainty quantification on resonance parameters, cross sections, neutron multiplicities, and fission product yields
  • Neutron source quantification from (α, n) reactions supported by the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development NA-22
  • Provide mentorship to junior scientific staff

• Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Nuclear Data Center
  • Assistant Nuclear Physicist (Jan 2010–Apr 2011)
  • Post-doctoral Research Associate (Jan 2007–Dec 2009)
  •  Project on uncertainty quantification for evaluated nuclear data libraries supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
  •  Nuclear data analyses within Hauser-Feshbach statistical model and exciton preequilibrium model for ²³Na, ⁵⁵Mn, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²³⁹Pu

• Committees and Advisory Groups
  • Nuclear Data Advisory Group (member)
  • Cross Section Evaluation Working Group
    • Executive committee (member)
    • Covariance committee (member)
    • Fission product yield committee (member)
    • Charged-particle sub-library (chair)
  • Nuclear Data Working Group (member)
  • Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation
  •  R-Matrix Workshop on Methods and Applications committee
  •  Consultant to the International Nuclear Data Evaluation Network at the International Atomic Energy Agency: light nuclei, structural materials, fissile heavy nuclei, charged-particle reactions, and nuclear data processing

Publications