241Am/Be source optimum geometry for DSRS management-based Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

The geometry form related to 241Am/Be spontaneous neutron sources has been investigated to evaluate the most optimizing geometry for disused sealed radioactive source (DSRS) disposal. Nine source geometries were assessed: point, disk, sphere 1, sphere 2, sphere 3, cylinder 1, cylinder 2, rectangle 1, and rectangle 2. The most radiological optimizing geometries were found to be the disk, followed by the point source, sphere 1, and cylinder 1, while the rectangle or parallelepiped 2 source forms were the worst cases. Neutron and photon generated fluxes were computed, and the parallelepiped 2 source geometry generated the lower value of flux inversely to the effective dose rate computed in the decision-making area, where it was found to be the highest value. The obtained results were in agreement with the as low as reasonably achievable principle for the exposure rate optimization. The obtained exposure dose rates were found to be