MCNP Sim of Jack Converter

Simulation inputs

MCNP input deck: File:MCNP Jack Converter.txt.

The cross-section plots below show that the vast majority photo-neutrons are produced by (G,n) on Tungsten-184.

Geometry

Profile view of converter geometry. Distances are in cm. There are two thin (0.001 inch) titanium plates, one on the far left and another on the far right of the convertor, but they are too small to be seen in this diagram. 0.2 cm of water separates each of the three 0.15 cm thick tungsten plates.

Front view of convertor geometry. Distances are in cm.

Materials legend for figures:

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Assumptions

The beam spot size was given a diameter of 0.5 based off of the size of a burn mark on a converter that got hot during irradiation. Electrons are mono energetic.

Results

The plots below show the energy distribution for neutrons exiting the converter at three different intervals of their angle w.r.t. the incident electron beam. The energy spectrum of neutrons from the neutron-induced fission of U235 is shown on each plot, and is normalized to have the same integral flux as the simulated neutrons to facilitate comparison.

The mean and median energy of fission neutrons from U235 is 1.94 MeV and 1.66 MeV, respectively. The mean and median energy of produced neurons are also shown on each plot.

Neutron energy spectra from 42 MeV electrons

10 - 42 MeV neutrons

6-10 MeV neutrons

With water in the converter (no significant difference with no water):

0.13-6 MeV neutrons

With water in the converter (no significant difference with no water):

0-0.1 MeV neutrons, with and without water

With water:

Without water:

Neutron energy spectra from 30 MeV electrons

6-10 MeV neutrons

0.13-7 MeV neutrons

0-0.1 MeV neutrons

With water:

Neutron energy spectra from 20 MeV electrons

6-10 MeV neutrons

Not enough statistics.

0.13-6 MeV neutrons

0-0.1 MeV neutrons

with water:

Photon energy spectra from 42 MeV electrons

The plot below shows the energy distribution of photons exiting the converter for four different ranges of angle w.r.t. the incident electron beam