Analysis of the Impact of Cross-sectional Data Discrepancies on the Effectiveness of Radiation Shielding Design Using Monte Carlo Codes

Jeremiah Monari Kebwaro^1,

¹Department of physical sciences Karatina University, P.O Box 1957-10101, Karatina Kenya

Cite this paper:
Jeremiah Monari Kebwaro. Analysis of the Impact of Cross-sectional Data Discrepancies on the Effectiveness of Radiation Shielding Design Using Monte Carlo Codes. International Journal of Physics. 2019; 7(2):63-65. doi: 10.12691/ijp-7-2-5

Abstract

The effect of cross-sectional data discrepancies on the effectiveness of radiation shielding design has been investigated in this paper. The MCNP code with cross-sections from ENDF/B-V and ENDF/B-VII has been used to determine the gamma ray dose equivalent, H*(10), behind a lead glass shield enclosing a slow neutron source. It is observed that the radiative capture gamma ray dose behind the shield is higher when ENDF/B-V cross-sections are used compared to that produced by ENDF/B-VII cross-sections. The discrepancy is due to absence of energetic primary gamma rays when ENDF/B-VII is used. The results show that shielding design using ENDF/B-VII cross-sections could underestimate the shield by a fair margin and compromise safety. It is therefore necessary to consider more than one release of ENDF/B when using lead glass for shielding slow neutron capture gamma rays. The discrepancies need to be addressed in the next releases.

Keywords:
lead glass shielded dose MCNP ENDF cross-sections discrepancies

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