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Title: MCViNE- An object oriented Monte Carlo neutron ray tracing simulation package

Abstract

MCViNE (Monte-Carlo VIrtual Neutron Experiment) is an open-source Monte Carlo (MC) neutron ray-tracing software for performing computer modeling and simulations that mirror real neutron scattering experiments. We exploited the close similarity between how instrument components are designed and operated and how such components can be modeled in software. For example we used object oriented programming concepts for representing neutron scatterers and detector systems, and recursive algorithms for implementing multiple scattering. Combining these features together in MCViNE allows one to handle sophisticated neutron scattering problems in modern instruments, including, for example, neutron detection by complex detector systems, and single and multiple scattering events in a variety of samples and sample environments. In addition, MCViNE can use simulation components from linear-chain-based MC ray tracing packages which facilitates porting instrument models from those codes. Furthermore it allows for components written solely in Python, which expedites prototyping of new components. These developments have enabled detailed simulations of neutron scattering experiments, with non-trivial samples, for time-of-flight inelastic instruments at the Spallation Neutron Source. Examples of such simulations for powder and single-crystal samples with various scattering kernels, including kernels for phonon and magnon scattering, are presented. As a result, with simulations that closely reproduce experimental results,more » scattering mechanisms can be turned on and off to determine how they contribute to the measured scattering intensities, improving our understanding of the underlying physics.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [4]
  1. California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1238731
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1397568
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 810; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; neutron scattering; Monte Carlo simulation; ray-tracing; inelastic; spectrometry

Citation Formats

Lin, J. Y. Y., Smith, Hillary L., Granroth, Garrett E., Abernathy, Douglas L., Lumsden, Mark D., Winn, Barry L., Aczel, Adam A., Aivazis, Michael, and Fultz, Brent. MCViNE- An object oriented Monte Carlo neutron ray tracing simulation package. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2015.11.118.
Lin, J. Y. Y., Smith, Hillary L., Granroth, Garrett E., Abernathy, Douglas L., Lumsden, Mark D., Winn, Barry L., Aczel, Adam A., Aivazis, Michael, & Fultz, Brent. MCViNE- An object oriented Monte Carlo neutron ray tracing simulation package. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.11.118
Lin, J. Y. Y., Smith, Hillary L., Granroth, Garrett E., Abernathy, Douglas L., Lumsden, Mark D., Winn, Barry L., Aczel, Adam A., Aivazis, Michael, and Fultz, Brent. 2015. "MCViNE- An object oriented Monte Carlo neutron ray tracing simulation package". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.11.118. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1238731.
@article{osti_1238731,
title = {MCViNE- An object oriented Monte Carlo neutron ray tracing simulation package},
author = {Lin, J. Y. Y. and Smith, Hillary L. and Granroth, Garrett E. and Abernathy, Douglas L. and Lumsden, Mark D. and Winn, Barry L. and Aczel, Adam A. and Aivazis, Michael and Fultz, Brent},
abstractNote = {MCViNE (Monte-Carlo VIrtual Neutron Experiment) is an open-source Monte Carlo (MC) neutron ray-tracing software for performing computer modeling and simulations that mirror real neutron scattering experiments. We exploited the close similarity between how instrument components are designed and operated and how such components can be modeled in software. For example we used object oriented programming concepts for representing neutron scatterers and detector systems, and recursive algorithms for implementing multiple scattering. Combining these features together in MCViNE allows one to handle sophisticated neutron scattering problems in modern instruments, including, for example, neutron detection by complex detector systems, and single and multiple scattering events in a variety of samples and sample environments. In addition, MCViNE can use simulation components from linear-chain-based MC ray tracing packages which facilitates porting instrument models from those codes. Furthermore it allows for components written solely in Python, which expedites prototyping of new components. These developments have enabled detailed simulations of neutron scattering experiments, with non-trivial samples, for time-of-flight inelastic instruments at the Spallation Neutron Source. Examples of such simulations for powder and single-crystal samples with various scattering kernels, including kernels for phonon and magnon scattering, are presented. As a result, with simulations that closely reproduce experimental results, scattering mechanisms can be turned on and off to determine how they contribute to the measured scattering intensities, improving our understanding of the underlying physics.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2015.11.118},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1238731}, journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
issn = {0168-9002},
number = C,
volume = 810,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

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Cited by: 40 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Recent developments of MCViNE and its applications at SNS
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Super-resolution energy spectra from neutron direct-geometry spectrometers
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Conceptual design of CHESS, a new direct-geometry inelastic neutron spectrometer dedicated to studying small samples
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