TOPICS-B, Neutron and Gamma Cross-Sections Library Handling in FIDO Format

1 - Description of program or function: The program is intended to manipulate working format neutron and/or gamma cross section libraries, carrying out such operations as mixing materials, deleting unneeded groups, inserting response cross sections or whatever the user may require. It has been designed to make it easy to include new modules to cope with new requirements. The cross section libraries involved should preferably be in ANISN format, but if they are not, this too can be handled by adding new modules as needed. This program is intended to supersede TOPICS (NEA-1406). TOPICS was intended for interactive use, but experience has shown that using it is somewhat difficult. Therefore it was redesigned for batch use (the input is written to a file and the program is then run using that file, instead of reading input directly from the keyboard). 2 - Method of solution: Each required operation is performed by a separate module (a set of subprograms). 3 - Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: Essentially none, variable dimensioning is used. However, TOPICS-B is not intended to be applied to basic nuclear data libraries (such as the ENDF/B series) or to flexible format libraries (e.g., the VITAMIN series). It is intended only for working format libraries like the BUGLE series