Physics Commons^™

Radiation Transport Modeling Using Parallel Computational Techniques, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

One of the most significant tools available for the design and analysis of accelerator-driven systems, such as the systems proposed for transmutation, is the high-energy particle transport code MCNPX. The MCNPX code suite, developed by the national laboratories, allows researchers and engineers to model the complex interactions of high-energy particles with the target and related systems, including the spallation reaction and subsequent neutron multiplication expected in the accelerator targets.

The next stage in the development of the MCNPX code suite is to validate the code by comparing the theoretical predictions from the models with experimental observations. Additionally, the nuclear database, …

Radiation Transport Modeling Using Parallel Computational Techniques, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

The second year of this project involved modeling several aspects of the LANCSE beam experiments:

• Modeling targets of varying diameter in air, in a vacuum, and in the presence of humid air;
• Modeling various proton beam profiles;
• Modeling the effects of off-axis proton beam impingement on the target;
• Modeling the asymmetry introduced by the steel table below the target;
• Modeling the effect of varying ratios of Pb to Bi and the effect of impurities; and
• Modeling the system, including other structures within the test room.

With the experience gained through modeling these systems, the UNLV researchers plan, with the assistance …

Radiation Transport Modeling Using Parallel Computational Techniques, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

The second year of this project involved modeling several aspects of the LANCSE beam experiments:

• Modeling targets of varying diameter in air, in a vacuum, and in the presence of humid air;
• Modeling various proton beam profiles;
• Modeling the effects of off-axis proton beam impingement on the target;
• Modeling the asymmetry introduced by the steel table below the target;
• Modeling the effect of varying ratios of Pb to Bi and the effect of impurities; and
• Modeling the system, including other structures within the test room.

With the experience gained through modeling these systems, the UNLV researchers plan, with the assistance …

Radiation Transport Modeling Of Beam-Target Experiments, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

In the first year of the UNLV effort, researchers planned to develop the models of the experimental systems to predict the neutron flux and leakage from the experimental targets using the MCNPX code suite in order to help determine these missing parameters. To support these models, the researchers project, or estimate, values for the unknown parameters describing various events and phenomena occurring within the beam-target experiment. The results of these simulations will then be compared against the observed neutron leakage rates and energies. The estimates for the unknown parameters are then revised to correlate with the observed values (these parameters …