A Benchmark Comparison of Predicted X-Ray and Neutron Doses for a Nuclear Effects Test in the Laboratory Microfusion Facility

Major applications of the Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) will include nuclear effects simulation testing and commercial development of inertial fusion. Recent studies of the use of the LMF for x-ray effects experiments have demonstrated that this testing is possible at high-dose and dose rate with good fidelity because neutron effects can be minimized. To insure a basis for comparison between design studies at Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque (SNLA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), we developed a computational benchmark. The benchmark geometry includes a spherical photon scatterer and a conical neutron shield, both of LiH enriched to 96.5% ⁶Li. The benchmark x-ray source is a 15-keV Plankian spectrum, and the neutron source is mono-energetic 14.1-MeV neutrons. We compared results with the following computer codes and cross section libraries: MORSE and DABL69 at AFIT, TART and ENDL at LLNL, and MCNP and ENDL at SNLA. We present a comparison of the predicted x-ray, neutron, and n-gamma doses at a 3-m distant, 2-m diameter exposure plane. We compare total doses and peak dose rates; and we discuss differences in results.