Simulation of neutron production using MCNPX+MCUNED

Area of Science:

• Nuclear physics
• Computational modeling
• Radiation science

Background:

• Standard MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle) code has limitations in efficiently modeling neutron production by ions.
• Accurate simulation of neutron reference fields is essential for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the MCUNED patch for MCNPX 2.7.0, enabling efficient modeling of neutron production by light ions.
• To validate MCNPX/MCUNED calculations against the TARGET code for neutron production simulations.
• To demonstrate the capability of MCUNED in simulating complex experiments like the PTB's TCAP experiment.

Main Methods:

• Application of the MCUNED patch to MCNPX 2.7.0 for simulating light ion interactions.
• Comparison of MCNPX/MCUNED simulation results with those from the TARGET code.
• Utilizing MCUNED's variance reduction techniques and coincidence counting tally for advanced simulations.

Main Results:

• MCUNED allows efficient modeling of neutron production by light ions down to keV energies.
• The patch enables efficient study of target property influences, including isotope diffusion and energy/angular straggling.
• MCUNED successfully incorporates advanced simulation features for experiments like TCAP.

Conclusions:

• The MCUNED patch significantly improves the capability of MCNPX for simulating neutron production by light ions.
• MCUNED provides a robust tool for studying target effects and simulating complex neutron-based experiments.
• This advancement facilitates more accurate and efficient research in neutron reference field generation and nuclear reaction analysis.