title: Intercomparison of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes to model TEPC response in low-energy neutron and gamma-ray fields.
abstract: Tissue-equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) can potentially be used as a portable and personal dosemeter in mixed neutron and gamma-ray fields, but what hinders this use is their typically large physical size. To formulate compact TEPC designs, the use of a Monte Carlo transport code is necessary to predict the performance of compact designs in these fields. To perform this modelling, three candidate codes were assessed: MCNPX 2.7.E, FLUKA 2011.2 and PHITS 2.24. In each code, benchmark simulations were performed involving the irradiation of a 5-in. TEPC with monoenergetic neutron fields and a 4-in. wall-less TEPC with monoenergetic gamma-ray fields. The frequency and dose mean lineal energies and dose distributions calculated from each code were compared with experimentally determined data. For the neutron benchmark simulations, PHITS produces data closest to the experimental values and for the gamma-ray benchmark simulations, FLUKA yields data closest to the experimentally determined quantities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, UOIT, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4 fawaz.ali@uoit.ca.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, UOIT, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Waker
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, UOIT, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014018:Tissue Distribution