Application of MCNP, MERCURY and TART to Calculation of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) Shielding

摘要

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a multibillion dollar laser project that is presently being constructed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In its use to investigate fusion this facility will produce radiation fields, and as such will require radiation shielding to protect the personnel who will be working in the vicinity. Physically, the facility is roughly the size of a major sports stadium and very complex. For example, the figure below illustrates a cut away view of only the portion of the facility within the target bay; it is ～35 m in diameter and ～40 m in height. Access requirements and laser beam transport make the shielding design challenging.