Analysis of Population Control Techniques for Time-Dependent and Eigenvalue Monte Carlo Neutron Transport Calculations

Abstract

An extensive study of population control techniques (PCTs) for time-dependent and eigenvalue Monte Carlo (MC) neutron transport calculations is presented. We define PCT as a technique that takes a censused population and returns a controlled, unbiased population. A new perspective based on an abstraction of particle census and population control is explored, paving the way to improved understanding and application of the concepts. Five distinct PCTs identified from the literature are reviewed: simple sampling, splitting-roulette (SR), combing (CO), modified combing, and duplicate-discard (DD). A theoretical analysis of how much uncertainty is introduced to a population by each PCT is presented. Parallel algorithms for the PCTs, applicable for both time-dependent and eigenvalue MC simulations, are proposed. The relative performance of the PCTs based on run time and tally mean error or standard deviation is assessed by solving time-dependent and eigenvalue test problems. It is found that SR and CO are equally the most performing techniques, closely followed by DD.

Keywords:

• Monte Carlo
• particle transport
• population control
• parallel algorithm

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

^a CO is the only technique that has a single, well-known origin,¹⁵ a proper name, and a clear, unambiguous procedure.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Center for Exascale Monte-Carlo Neutron Transport (CEMeNT), a PSAAP-III project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, grant number DE-NA003967.