Fast Monte Carlo calculation of multiple scattering in resonant neutron capture

Abstract

A fast Monte Carlo code has been developed to calculate multiple neutron scattering in a sample. Good agreement with an independent Monte Carlo calculation using SAMMY is obtained for neutron capture in ${}^{197}$Au over the energy range 50--300 eV. For capture following two or more scattering events, a difference is found between the direct Monte Carlo calculation and the analytical approximation in SAMMY. The computational speed allows the scattering correction to be recalculated whenever trial resonance parameters are changed during parameter estimation. The computational core is implemented in C++, while data preparation, calculation control and analysis are performed in Python. Model studies examine how Monte Carlo statistics affect the accuracy with which neutron and radiative resonance widths are recovered.

Comments: 15 pages, 6 figures