Optimization Studies of Radiation Shielding for the PIP-II Project at Fermilab

TL;DR

This paper presents an optimized radiation shielding design for Fermilab's PIP-II project, utilizing advanced simulation techniques and improved visualization tools to ensure safety and efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a refined MARS simulation model with high-resolution detectors and employs branching techniques to reduce computational time while maintaining accuracy.

Findings

Reduced simulation runtimes significantly

Enhanced radiation field visualization tools

Validated shielding effectiveness for PIP-II components

Abstract

The PIP-II project at Fermilab, which includes an 800-MeV superconducting LINAC, demands rigorous radiation shielding optimization to meet safety requirements. We updated the MARS geometry model to reflect new magnet and collimator designs and introduced high-resolution detector planes to better capture radiation field distributions. To overcome the significant computational demands, we implemented a well-known branching technique that drastically reduced simulation runtimes while maintaining statistical integrity. This was achieved through particle splitting and the application of Russian Roulette techniques. Additionally, new graphical tools were created to streamline data visualization and MARS code usability.