Is the Standard Monte Carlo Power Iteration Approach the Wrong Approach?
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
The power iteration method is the standard Monte Carlo approach for obtaining the eigenfunctions of a nuclear system, but the power method sometimes converges very slowly. Most discussions give a mathematical reason for the slow convergence of the Monte Carlo power method using the same concepts and terminology as when the power method is applied to a deterministic problem. This note first looks at why the convergence is slow from an intuitive Monte Carlo neutron perspective. Second, this note proposes building an eigenfunction intuitively in a cumulative (and noniterative) neutron by neutron manner that tends to better direct neutrons to where the neutrons need to be. Third, a very similar method for building the second eigenfunction is speculatively proposed.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/LANL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1043017
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-12-21928; TRN: US1203078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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