Simplified spherical harmonic method for coupled electron-photon transport calculations

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.57.6161· OSTI ID:627910

Josef, J A; Morel, J E ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS D409, Los Alamos, New Mexico87545 (United States)

In this paper we apply the simplified spherical harmonic (SP{sub N}) approximation to coupled electron-photon transport problems in two-dimensional cylindrical geometry in the energy range from roughly 10 keV to 10 MeV. The SP{sub N} equations represent an asymptotic approximation that does not necessarily converge to the exact transport solution as N{r_arrow}{infinity}, but can sometimes produce solutions that are much more accurate than diffusion theory at a fraction of the cost of a full transport treatment. To our knowledge, the SP{sub N} approximation has previously been applied only to neutron transport problems. We investigate the applicability of the SP{sub N} method to satellite electronics shielding calculations. In addition to applying the approximation, we generalize certain iterative convergence acceleration techniques originally developed for the one-dimensional S{sub N} (discrete ordinates) equations, and apply them to the two-dimensional SP{sub N} equations. We present numerical comparisons with Monte Carlo calculations for the purpose of examining both the accuracy of the SP{sub N} approximation and the computational efficiency of our solution techniques. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 627910
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 57; ISSN 1063-651X; ISSN PLEEE8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
DIFFUSION
ELECTRONS
GEOMETRY
ITERATIVE METHODS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
PHOTON TRANSPORT
SPHERICAL HARMONICS