ATLAS: Accelerated torus-like angular source for fusion neutronics applications

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design Vol. 86; no. 9; pp. 1825 - 1829
• Main Authors: Turner, Andrew, Pampin, Raúl, Leichtle, Dieter, Loughlin, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-10-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Angular distribution; Applied sciences; Approximation; Attila; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Design engineering; Energy; Energy use; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Experimental methods and instrumentation for elementary-particle and nuclear physics; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; ITER; Mathematical models; MCNP; Neutron source; Neutron sources; Neutronics; Nuclear physics; Particle sources and targets; Physics; Three dimensional; Tokamak devices; Walls; Neutron source; Neutronics; ITER; MCNP; Attila; Tokamak; Neutron flux; Plasma; Nuclear fusion reactor; Algorithm; First wall
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2010.12.049

There is increasing demand for fast and accurate neutronics analysis to be conducted on specific ITER components. The ATLAS (accelerated torus-like angular source) algorithm has been developed to accelerate such neutronics calculations by approximating the 3-D plasma volume source as a surface source at the first-wall region of interest. The ATLAS routine rapidly calculates the angular distribution of the unscattered neutron flux at the chosen first wall location, on a discrete angular grid, and writes a surface source for both MCNP and Attila. This discretised source can then be used to accurately reproduce the full 3-D toroidal volume source in angle and energy, and to quickly simulate the irradiation of individual components or regions in the ITER model. While designed for ITER, the method is general in implementation and can be applied to any tokamak.