How to use this MCNP physics model?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the use of the MCNP simulation software for modeling a neutron inspector design. Participants explore the implementation of physics models in MCNP, particularly in relation to simulating neutron interactions and gamma ray detection. The conversation includes technical challenges, simulation warnings, and adjustments to parameters for achieving desired results.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their design involving a 14 MeV neutron generator and an NaI detector, expressing concerns about the physics model being disabled despite setting default values.
  • Another participant suggests that the advanced physics models are not necessary for the user's needs and recommends using "mode n p" instead.
  • A participant reports receiving a warning about photon-production and notes the absence of a peak at 10.8 MeV for nitrogen, questioning whether to include a physics model in the simulation.
  • One participant hypothesizes that the rarity of the photon from neutron capture could lead to a blurred signal across energy bins, suggesting adjustments to the number of energy bins and other parameters to clarify results.
  • Another participant shares a basic test setup that successfully produced a peak at 10.8 MeV, while also noting the persistent warning about photon-production.
  • There are suggestions to try different libraries for the simulation, indicating that the choice of library may affect the results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various approaches and adjustments to the simulation, but there is no consensus on the best method to resolve the warning or achieve the desired peak results. Multiple competing views on the necessity of certain physics models and simulation parameters remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific warnings and results from simulations, indicating potential limitations in the current setup. There is also a discussion about the impact of energy bin settings and library choices on the outcomes, but these aspects remain unresolved.

kg09889
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I am a student studying MCNP. I am designing a neutron inspector and planning to simulate it using MCNP. The design I am working on involves using a 14 MeV neutron generator to react neutrons with a target and then measure the gamma rays produced using an NaI detector. The energies I am particularly interested in are 2.2 MeV for H, 4.4 MeV for C, 6.1 MeV for O, and 10.8 MeV for N. Even though I have set the phys:n to the default values, it still shows that the physics model is disabled. How should I use the physics model in this situation I am designing?
Thank you for reading my message.
 

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The advanced physics models mostly relate to exotic particles, or things outside of table values. What you need should work with "mode n p". You probably won't need to turn on photonuclear physics, but if things definitely aren't working try that first on the phys p card.
 
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Thank you for welcoming me.
When I ran the simulation without using a physics model, I got a warning:
"no photon-production mt found in acegam. zaid = 7014.80c"
Additionally, the peak corresponding to the 10.8 MeV energy from nitrogen did not appear. At this point, I ran the simulation up to NPS = 748,377,421.
To resolve this issue, should I include a physics model in the phys:p card?
I appreciate your response and look forward to your reply.
 
I'm not finished, but this is where I'm going....
The photon from neutron capture hitting the detector could be quite rare. With 10'000 energy bins they are ~1 kev wide, there is ~400kev of Gaussian broadening applied (this may be correct for an NaI detector) so that rare signal is blurred over hundreds of energy bins.

I think you won't see a clear peak.

I suggest you go default for all physics options. Reduce the number of energy bins to say 1000, remove GEB and run to see if the peak exists. Look out for the warning if that still exists.
 
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Thank you again for your response.
I will make the modifications right away and run the simulation.
I hope the results turn out well...
I will upload the modified file and the results after running the simulation.
4o
 
Alex A said:
I'm not finished, but this is where I'm going....
The photon from neutron capture hitting the detector could be quite rare. With 10'000 energy bins they are ~1 kev wide, there is ~400kev of Gaussian broadening applied (this may be correct for an NaI detector) so that rare signal is blurred over hundreds of energy bins.

I think you won't see a clear peak.

I suggest you go default for all physics options. Reduce the number of energy bins to say 1000, remove GEB and run to see if the peak exists. Look out for the warning if that still exists.
I ran the simulation as you suggested, but I still get the same warning:
"Warning. No photon-production MT found in acegam. ZAID = 7014.80c."
Also, I couldn't see the 10.8MeV peak for nitrogen... What should I do?
 
Code:
Gamma production test
1 6 1 -1
2 0 1

*1 so 1

mode n p
imp:n 1 0
imp:p 1 0
sdef
c AN, NH4NO3, -1.720000
m6      1001 -0.050370 7014 -0.349978 8016 -0.599652 
f8:p 1
e8      0 1e-5 1000i 14 
nps 1e6
This is a very basic test and it essentially forces neutron capture for a clear result.
I see a peak in the output at 10.80 MeV (and others) so I take this as a success.
Code:
    1.0783E+01   4.90000E-04 0.0452
    1.0797E+01   1.68000E-04 0.0771
    1.0811E+01   1.13800E-03 0.0296
    1.0825E+01   8.40000E-05 0.1091
    1.0839E+01   1.43400E-03 0.0264
    1.0853E+01   7.00000E-05 0.1195
    1.0867E+01   1.77000E-04 0.0752
See what result you get. The warning is a concern.
Try specifying a different library. 80c is ENDF7.1 which is much newer than the ENDF6.8 that seems to be working here and you may already have that. ENDF8 is public and could be an option.
I will try some more tests here.
 
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Alex A said:
Code:
Gamma production test
1 6 1 -1
2 0 1

*1 so 1

mode n p
imp:n 1 0
imp:p 1 0
sdef
c AN, NH4NO3, -1.720000
m6      1001 -0.050370 7014 -0.349978 8016 -0.599652
f8:p 1
e8      0 1e-5 1000i 14
nps 1e6
This is a very basic test and it essentially forces neutron capture for a clear result.
I see a peak in the output at 10.80 MeV (and others) so I take this as a success.
Code:
    1.0783E+01   4.90000E-04 0.0452
    1.0797E+01   1.68000E-04 0.0771
    1.0811E+01   1.13800E-03 0.0296
    1.0825E+01   8.40000E-05 0.1091
    1.0839E+01   1.43400E-03 0.0264
    1.0853E+01   7.00000E-05 0.1195
    1.0867E+01   1.77000E-04 0.0752
See what result you get. The warning is a concern.
Try specifying a different library. 80c is ENDF7.1 which is much newer than the ENDF6.8 that seems to be working here and you may already have that. ENDF8 is public and could be an option.
I will try some more tests here.
Thank you for your response.
I will try again.
I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you get any good results by running the code additionally.
 

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