Code intercomparison and benchmark for muon fluence and absorbed dose induced by an 18-GeV electron beam after massive iron shielding

TL;DR

This paper compares modern Monte Carlo simulation codes with historical experimental data on muon fluence and dose from an 18-GeV electron beam, aiming to validate and benchmark current modeling accuracy against past measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive intercomparison and benchmarking of MARS15, FLUKA2011, and GEANT4 simulations against historical SLAC muon shielding data.

Findings

Simulation results are consistent across codes.

Models closely match historical experimental data.

Benchmarking highlights strengths and limitations of current codes.

Abstract

In 1974, Nelson, Kase, and Svenson published an experimental investigation on muon shielding using the SLAC high energy LINAC. They measured muon fluence and absorbed dose induced by a 18 GeV electron beam hitting a copper/water beam dump and attenuated in a thick steel shielding. In their paper, they compared the results with the theoretical mode ls available at the time. In order to compare their experimental results with present model calculations, we use the modern transport Monte Carlo codes MARS15, FLUKA2011 and GEANT4 to model the experimental setup and run simulations. The results will then be compared between the codes, and with the SLAC data.