GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target

The increasing interest that GEANT4 is gaining nowadays, because of its special capabilities, prompted us to address its reliability in neutronic calculation for the realistic and complex spallation target MEGAPIE of the Paul Scherrer Institute of Switzerland. In this paper we have specifically addr...

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Main Authors: Abdesslam Lamrabet, Abdelmajid Maghnouj, Jaouad Tajmouati, Mohamed Bencheikh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-10-01
Series:Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573321002539
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author Abdesslam Lamrabet
Abdelmajid Maghnouj
Jaouad Tajmouati
Mohamed Bencheikh
author_facet Abdesslam Lamrabet
Abdelmajid Maghnouj
Jaouad Tajmouati
Mohamed Bencheikh
author_sort Abdesslam Lamrabet
collection DOAJ
description The increasing interest that GEANT4 is gaining nowadays, because of its special capabilities, prompted us to address its reliability in neutronic calculation for the realistic and complex spallation target MEGAPIE of the Paul Scherrer Institute of Switzerland. In this paper we have specifically addressed the neutronic characterization of the active zone of this target. Three physical quantities are evaluated: neutron flux spectra and total neutron fluxes on target's z-axis, and the neutron yield as a function of the target's altitude and radius. Comparison of the obtained results with those of the MCNPX reference code and some experimental measurements have confirmed the impact of the geometrical and proton beam models on the neutron fluxes. It has also allowed to reveal the intrinsic influence of the code type. The resulting differences reach a factor of ~2 for the beam model and 4–18% for the other parameters cumulated. The analysis of the neutron yield has led us to conclude that: 1) Increasing the productivity of the MEGAPIE target cannot be achieved simply by increasing the thickness of the target, if the irradiation parameters are not modified. 2) The size of the spallation area needs to be redefined more precisely.
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spelling doaj.art-abdd29ba643e46548b977e17523893a62022-12-21T22:33:51ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332021-10-01531031643170GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation targetAbdesslam Lamrabet0Abdelmajid Maghnouj1Jaouad Tajmouati2Mohamed Bencheikh3Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, 30000, Fès, Morocco; Corresponding author. Ain Taoujdate B.P 151, El Hajeb, Morocco.Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, 30000, Fès, MoroccoDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, 30000, Fès, MoroccoDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Mohammedia, MoroccoThe increasing interest that GEANT4 is gaining nowadays, because of its special capabilities, prompted us to address its reliability in neutronic calculation for the realistic and complex spallation target MEGAPIE of the Paul Scherrer Institute of Switzerland. In this paper we have specifically addressed the neutronic characterization of the active zone of this target. Three physical quantities are evaluated: neutron flux spectra and total neutron fluxes on target's z-axis, and the neutron yield as a function of the target's altitude and radius. Comparison of the obtained results with those of the MCNPX reference code and some experimental measurements have confirmed the impact of the geometrical and proton beam models on the neutron fluxes. It has also allowed to reveal the intrinsic influence of the code type. The resulting differences reach a factor of ~2 for the beam model and 4–18% for the other parameters cumulated. The analysis of the neutron yield has led us to conclude that: 1) Increasing the productivity of the MEGAPIE target cannot be achieved simply by increasing the thickness of the target, if the irradiation parameters are not modified. 2) The size of the spallation area needs to be redefined more precisely.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573321002539Neutron fluxMicro-detectorsMEGAPIE targetGEANT4Simulation
spellingShingle Abdesslam Lamrabet
Abdelmajid Maghnouj
Jaouad Tajmouati
Mohamed Bencheikh
GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Neutron flux
Micro-detectors
MEGAPIE target
GEANT4
Simulation
title GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
title_full GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
title_fullStr GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
title_full_unstemmed GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
title_short GEANT4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the MEGAPIE spallation target
title_sort geant4 characterization of the neutronic behavior of the active zone of the megapie spallation target
topic Neutron flux
Micro-detectors
MEGAPIE target
GEANT4
Simulation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573321002539
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