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Title: An angular biasing method using arbitrary convex polyhedra for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations

Abstract

This paper presents a new method for performing angular biasing in Monte Carlo radiation transport codes using arbitrary convex polyhedra to define regions of interest toward which to project particles (DXTRAN regions). The method is derived and is implemented using axis-aligned right parallelepipeds (AARPPs) and arbitrary convex polyhedra. Attention is paid to possible numerical complications and areas for future refinement. A series of test problems are executed with void, purely absorbing, purely scattering, and 50% absorbing/ 50% scattering materials. For all test problems tally results using AARPP and polyhedral DXTRAN regions agree with analog and/or spherical DXTRAN results within statistical uncertainties. In cases with significant scattering the figure of merit (FOM) using AARPP or polyhedral DXTRAN regions is lower than with spherical regions despite the ability to closely fit the tally region. This is because spherical DXTRAN processing is computationally less expensive than AARPP or polyhedral DXTRAN processing. Thus, it is recommended that the speed of spherical regions be considered versus the ability to closely fit the tally region with an AARPP or arbitrary polyhedral region. It is also recommended that short calculations be made prior to final calculations to compare the FOM for the various DXTRAN geometries because ofmore » the influence of the scattering behavior.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences; Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22); USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1438017
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1524371
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-29230
Journal ID: ISSN 0306-4549; PII: S0306454917304991
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0002576; 89233218CNA000001
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Annals of Nuclear Energy (Oxford)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 114; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0306-4549
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; MCNP6; DXTRAN; Angular biasing; Convex hull; MCNP6, DXTRAN, Angular Biasing, Convex Hull

Citation Formats

Kulesza, Joel A., Solomon, Clell J., and Kiedrowski, Brian C. An angular biasing method using arbitrary convex polyhedra for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.045.
Kulesza, Joel A., Solomon, Clell J., & Kiedrowski, Brian C. An angular biasing method using arbitrary convex polyhedra for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.045
Kulesza, Joel A., Solomon, Clell J., and Kiedrowski, Brian C. 2018. "An angular biasing method using arbitrary convex polyhedra for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.045. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1438017.
@article{osti_1438017,
title = {An angular biasing method using arbitrary convex polyhedra for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations},
author = {Kulesza, Joel A. and Solomon, Clell J. and Kiedrowski, Brian C.},
abstractNote = {This paper presents a new method for performing angular biasing in Monte Carlo radiation transport codes using arbitrary convex polyhedra to define regions of interest toward which to project particles (DXTRAN regions). The method is derived and is implemented using axis-aligned right parallelepipeds (AARPPs) and arbitrary convex polyhedra. Attention is paid to possible numerical complications and areas for future refinement. A series of test problems are executed with void, purely absorbing, purely scattering, and 50% absorbing/ 50% scattering materials. For all test problems tally results using AARPP and polyhedral DXTRAN regions agree with analog and/or spherical DXTRAN results within statistical uncertainties. In cases with significant scattering the figure of merit (FOM) using AARPP or polyhedral DXTRAN regions is lower than with spherical regions despite the ability to closely fit the tally region. This is because spherical DXTRAN processing is computationally less expensive than AARPP or polyhedral DXTRAN processing. Thus, it is recommended that the speed of spherical regions be considered versus the ability to closely fit the tally region with an AARPP or arbitrary polyhedral region. It is also recommended that short calculations be made prior to final calculations to compare the FOM for the various DXTRAN geometries because of the influence of the scattering behavior.},
doi = {10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.045},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1438017}, journal = {Annals of Nuclear Energy (Oxford)},
issn = {0306-4549},
number = C,
volume = 114,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 02 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Tue Jan 02 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Cited by: 2 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1: Figure 1:: Spherical DXTRAN region and initiation point p

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