Coupling Deterministic and Monte Carlo Transport Methods for the Simulation of Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Scenarios

Journal Article · Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 55(5, Pt 2):2598 - 2606

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2008.2002819· OSTI ID:949935

Smith, Leon E; Gesh, Christopher J; Pagh, Richard T; Miller, Erin A; Shaver, Mark W; Ashbaker, Eric D; Batdorf, Michael T; Ellis, J E; Kaye, William R; McConn, Ronald J; Meriwether, George H; Ressler, Jennifer J; Valsan, Andrei B; Wareing, Todd A

Radiation transport modeling methods used in the radiation detection community fall into one of two broad categories: stochastic (Monte Carlo) and deterministic. Monte Carlo methods are typically the tool of choice for simulating gamma-ray spectrometers operating in homeland and national security settings (e.g. portal monitoring of vehicles or isotope identification using handheld devices), but deterministic codes that discretize the linear Boltzmann transport equation in space, angle, and energy offer potential advantages in computational efficiency for many complex radiation detection problems. This paper describes the development of a scenario simulation framework based on deterministic algorithms. Key challenges include: formulating methods to automatically define an energy group structure that can support modeling of gamma-ray spectrometers ranging from low to high resolution; combining deterministic transport algorithms (e.g. ray-tracing and discrete ordinates) to mitigate ray effects for a wide range of problem types; and developing efficient and accurate methods to calculate gamma-ray spectrometer response functions from the deterministic angular flux solutions. The software framework aimed at addressing these challenges is described and results from test problems that compare coupled deterministic-Monte Carlo methods and purely Monte Carlo approaches are provided.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 949935
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-55910; NN2001000
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 55(5, Pt 2):2598 - 2606, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 55(5, Pt 2):2598 - 2606 Journal Issue: 5, Pt 2 Vol. 55; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ALGORITHMS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
DISCRETE ORDINATE METHOD
EFFICIENCY
MONITORING
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NATIONAL SECURITY
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RESOLUTION
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SIMULATION
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSPORT
radiation detection modeling
radiation transport methods
simulation and analysis