Comprehensive nuclear model calculations: theory and use of the GNASH code

The theory and operation of the nuclear reaction theory computer code GNASH is described, and detailed instructions are presented for code users. The code utilizes statistical Hauser-Feshbach theory with full angular momentum conservation and includes corrections for preequilibrium effects. This version is expected to be applicable for incident particle energies between 1 keV and 150 MeV and for incident photon energies to 140 MeV. General features of the code, the nuclear models that are utilized, input parameters needed to perform calculations, and the output quantities from typical problems are described in detail. A number of new features compared to previous versions are described in this manual, including the following: (1) inclusion of multiple preequilibrium processes, which allows the model calculations to be performed above 50 MeV; (2) a capability to calculate photonuclear reactions; (3) a method for determining the spin distribution of residual nuclei following preequilibrium reactions; and (4) a description of how preequilibrium spectra calculated with the FKK theory can be utilized (the 'FKK-GNASH' approach). The computational structure of the code and the subroutines and functions that are called are summarized as well. Two detailed examples are considered: 14-MeV neutrons incident on 93Nb and 12-MeV neutrons incident on 238U. The former example illustrates a typical calculation aimed at determining neutron, proton, and alpha emission spectra from 14-MeV reactions, and the latter example demonstrates use of the fission model in GNASH. Results from a variety of other cases are illustrated. (author)