Evaluation of Geometric Progression (GP) Buildup Factors using MCNP Codes (MCNP6.1 and MCNP5-1.60)

Abstract

The gamma-ray buildup factors of three-dimensional point kernel code (QAD-CGGP) are re-evaluated by using MCNP codes (MCNP6.1 and MCNPX5-1.60) and ENDF/B-VI.8 photoatomic data, which cover an energy range of 0.015-15 MeV and an iron thickness of 0.5-40 Mean Free Path (MFP). These new data are fitted to the Geometric Progression (GP) fitting function and are then compared with ANS standard data equipped with QAD-CGGP. In addition, a simple benchmark calculation was performed to compare the QAD-CGGP results applied with new and existing buildup factors based on the MCNP codes. In the case of the buildup factors of low-energy gamma-rays, new data are evaluated to be about 5% higher than the existing data. In other cases, these new data present a similar trend based on the specific penetration depth, while existing data continuously increase beyond that depth. In a simple benchmark, the calculations using the existing data were slightly underestimated compared to the reference data at a deep penetration depth. On the other hand, the calculations with new data were stabilized with an increasing penetration depth, despite a slight overestimation at a shallow penetration depth.