"K-Effective of the World" and Other Concerns for Monte Carlo Eigenvalue Calculations
Conference
·
· Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Monte Carlo methods have been used to compute keff and the fundamental model eigenfunction of critical systems since the 1950s. Despite the sophistication of today's Monte Carlo codes for representing realistic geometry and physics interactions, correct results can be obtained in criticality problems only if users pay attention to source convergence in the Monte Carlo iterations and to running a sufficient number of neutron histories to adequately sample all significant regions of the problem. Recommended best practices for criticality calculations are reviewed and applied to several practical problems for nuclear reactors and criticality safety, including the "K-effective of the World" problem. Numerical results illustrate the concerns about convergence and bias. The general conclusion is that with today's high-performance computers, improved understanding of the theory, new tools for diagnosing convergence (e.g., Shannon entropy of the fission distribution), and clear practical guidance for performing calculations, practitioners will have a greater degree of confidence than ever of obtaining correct results for Monte Carlo criticality calculations.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1028196
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--10-05548; LA-UR--10-5548
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology Journal Issue: 0 Journal Volume: 2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Bias
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONVERGENCE
CRITICALITY
Convergence
Criticality
Criticality Calculations
EIGENFUNCTIONS
EIGENVALUES
ENTROPY
INTERACTIONS
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73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Bias
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONVERGENCE
CRITICALITY
Convergence
Criticality
Criticality Calculations
EIGENFUNCTIONS
EIGENVALUES
ENTROPY
INTERACTIONS
K-Effective
MONTE CARLO METHOD
Monte Carlo Methods
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Undersampling