Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection

P. Cosgrove; M. A. Kowalski; E. Shwageraus; G. T. Parks

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection

P. Cosgrove, M. A. Kowalski, E. Shwageraus, G. T. Parks

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Neutron clustering is a recently identified problem with Monte Carlo eigenvalue calculations which can produce significantly erroneous results. Previous work by Sutton & Mittal (2017) considered neutron clustering as a problem of maintaining 'genetic diversity' within the neutron population. This paper proposes reducing the extent of neutron clustering by replacing fission neutrons in the source bank with uncorrelated neutrons, sampled from a uniform source distribution - effectively adding new neutron genealogies to the population. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated on a number of simple problems, showing improved behaviour of the Shannon entropy and neutron centre-of-mass. Although currently limited in scope, this paper intends to provide a route to reducing clustering effects in more general problems.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	International Conference on Physics of Reactors
Subtitle of host publication	Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
Editors	Marat Margulis, Partrick Blaise
Publisher	EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences
Pages	855-862
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9781713827245
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202124704022
State	Published - 1 Jan 2020
Externally published	Yes
Event	2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020 - Cambridge, United Kingdom Duration: 28 Mar 2020 → 2 Apr 2020

Publication series

Name	International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
Volume	2020-March

Conference

Conference	2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Cambridge
Period	28/03/20 → 2/04/20

Keywords

Clustering
Correlation
Monte Carlo

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Radiation

Access to Document

10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

Cite this

Cosgrove, P., Kowalski, M. A., Shwageraus, E., & Parks, G. T. (2020). Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection. In M. Margulis, & P. Blaise (Eds.), International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020 (pp. 855-862). (International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020; Vol. 2020-March). EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

Cosgrove, P. ; Kowalski, M. A. ; Shwageraus, E. et al. / Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection. International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020. editor / Marat Margulis ; Partrick Blaise. EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences, 2020. pp. 855-862 (International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020).

@inproceedings{d4c263a66cd34e59b8ed8c231a65df61,

title = "Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection",

abstract = "Neutron clustering is a recently identified problem with Monte Carlo eigenvalue calculations which can produce significantly erroneous results. Previous work by Sutton & Mittal (2017) considered neutron clustering as a problem of maintaining 'genetic diversity' within the neutron population. This paper proposes reducing the extent of neutron clustering by replacing fission neutrons in the source bank with uncorrelated neutrons, sampled from a uniform source distribution - effectively adding new neutron genealogies to the population. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated on a number of simple problems, showing improved behaviour of the Shannon entropy and neutron centre-of-mass. Although currently limited in scope, this paper intends to provide a route to reducing clustering effects in more general problems.",

keywords = "Clustering, Correlation, Monte Carlo",

author = "P. Cosgrove and Kowalski, {M. A.} and E. Shwageraus and Parks, {G. T.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was carried out with the financial support of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Imperial College, University of Cambridge and Open University Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy under grant EP/L015900/1. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).; 2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020 ; Conference date: 28-03-2020 Through 02-04-2020",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/epjconf/202124704022",

language = "English",

series = "International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020",

publisher = "EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences",

pages = "855--862",

editor = "Marat Margulis and Partrick Blaise",

booktitle = "International Conference on Physics of Reactors",

}

Cosgrove, P, Kowalski, MA, Shwageraus, E & Parks, GT 2020, Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection. in M Margulis & P Blaise (eds), International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020. International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020, vol. 2020-March, EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences, pp. 855-862, 2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 28/03/20. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection. / Cosgrove, P.; Kowalski, M. A.; Shwageraus, E. et al.

International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020. ed. / Marat Margulis; Partrick Blaise. EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences, 2020. p. 855-862 (International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020; Vol. 2020-March).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection

AU - Cosgrove, P.

AU - Kowalski, M. A.

AU - Shwageraus, E.

AU - Parks, G. T.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was carried out with the financial support of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Imperial College, University of Cambridge and Open University Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy under grant EP/L015900/1. Publisher Copyright: © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - Neutron clustering is a recently identified problem with Monte Carlo eigenvalue calculations which can produce significantly erroneous results. Previous work by Sutton & Mittal (2017) considered neutron clustering as a problem of maintaining 'genetic diversity' within the neutron population. This paper proposes reducing the extent of neutron clustering by replacing fission neutrons in the source bank with uncorrelated neutrons, sampled from a uniform source distribution - effectively adding new neutron genealogies to the population. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated on a number of simple problems, showing improved behaviour of the Shannon entropy and neutron centre-of-mass. Although currently limited in scope, this paper intends to provide a route to reducing clustering effects in more general problems.

AB - Neutron clustering is a recently identified problem with Monte Carlo eigenvalue calculations which can produce significantly erroneous results. Previous work by Sutton & Mittal (2017) considered neutron clustering as a problem of maintaining 'genetic diversity' within the neutron population. This paper proposes reducing the extent of neutron clustering by replacing fission neutrons in the source bank with uncorrelated neutrons, sampled from a uniform source distribution - effectively adding new neutron genealogies to the population. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated on a number of simple problems, showing improved behaviour of the Shannon entropy and neutron centre-of-mass. Although currently limited in scope, this paper intends to provide a route to reducing clustering effects in more general problems.

KW - Clustering

KW - Correlation

KW - Monte Carlo

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108417161&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

DO - 10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85108417161

T3 - International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020

SP - 855

EP - 862

BT - International Conference on Physics of Reactors

A2 - Margulis, Marat

A2 - Blaise, Partrick

PB - EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences

T2 - 2020 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020

Y2 - 28 March 2020 through 2 April 2020

ER -

Cosgrove P, Kowalski MA, Shwageraus E, Parks GT. Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection. In Margulis M, Blaise P, editors, International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020. EDP Sciences - Web of Conferences. 2020. p. 855-862. (International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Transition to a Scalable Nuclear Future, PHYSOR 2020). doi: 10.1051/epjconf/202124704022

Countering neutron clustering in Monte Carlo with a neutron source injection

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this