Development and Verification of Americium-beryllium Neutron Source Facility Model Using Monte Carlo N-Particle Code

Abstract

The Americium-Beryllium neutron source facility housed at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology was modeled using the neutron transport code Monte Carlo N-Particle from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The model was validated through the comparison of the MCNP code output with physically measured values in the facility. With a validated model of the current source configuration, the addition of a 40mCi Americium-Beryllium neutron source was modeled into the existing 120 mCi Americium-Beryllium facility. The surrounding occupied areas with the addition of the 40mCi source were proven to have a dose rate lower than 2.5μSv/h, complying with the University's storage limit policy.