Development of BNBSL: A β-ν spectra library for spectrometry applications

While modern nuclear decay data can provide many details of a given nuclides β-decay modes (branching ratios, decay heating etc.), knowledge of the emitted β-energy spectrum is often not included. This limitation hampers the use of decay data in some analysis, such as β-spectrometry of irradiated material, prediction of β-decay Bremsstrahlung or antineutrino, ν̄, detection. To address this deficiency, and for increased ease of β-spectrometry studies of complex samples, a library of β, ν and Bremsstrahlung-spectra, called BNBSL (Beta-Neutrino-Bremsstrahlung spectra library), has been produced. It has been found that the content compares favourably with experimental data and methodologies for its application to complex nuclear inventories have been developed. BNBSL contains spectra for over 1500 nuclides, which is hoped will benefit applied nuclear, radiation and materials science studies. •Complete β-decay spectra are often missing from nuclear data libraries.•A library of β- and ν-spectra has been developed for applied nuclear studies.•The β-spectra are found with existing codes and show agreement with experiment.•The library the β-decay Bremsstrahlung photon spectrum for each nuclide.•Applications within activation-transmutation calculations are demonstrated.