Diffusion of neutrons by a slab of moderating material: an application of the Monte Carlo method

Abstract

An application of the Monte Carlo method to the diffusion of neutrons passing through a slab of a moderating material is presented. This method can be used as a tool to improve the student's comprehension of the statistical properties of many particle systems, showing the necessity of simulation procedures to obtain information on the expected results of real experiments. We have chosen a very simple example to illustrate it: the evaluation of the transmission, reflection and absorption probabilities of a monochromatic beam of neutrons diffusing through a slab of a moderator material. After a collision with a nucleus of the moderator the neutron may be either elastically scattered or captured. The transmission, reflection and absorption properties of the neutrons diffused by different moderating materials are visualized with the help of an appropriate animation program.

Electric conduction in semiconductors: a pedagogical model based on the Monte Carlo method

“…Our previous experiences, about the application of the Monte Carlo method to problems of nuclear physics suitable for students of master courses as well as the undergraduate level [24], showed that this method has revealed a particular efficacy in improving the understanding of the statistical properties of many particle systems by students of our physics courses.…”