Modernizing ENSDF - Design, Conversion, and Web Access

The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) format was originally created for punch cards, and still retains its design to this day. The 80-column text files in ENSDF store decades of nuclear structure and decay research in a format which is difficult to parse and challenging to expand. Fortunately, developments in database technology make it possible to re-design ENSDF for the needs of future research. The National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) is creating a multi-project pipeline that starts with new dataset formats written in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). As these formats are produced, original ENSDF datasets are also being converted to preserve existing data. The JSON data files are then stored in a CouchDB database which can accommodate more flexible and understandable designs. Lastly, a web request API is being developed to ensure that ENSDF datasets remain publicly accessible. By addressing each of these steps in individual projects, the NNDC aims to maintain ENSDF as a valuable source of data for decades to come.