Practical considerations in solving neutronics problems by the Monte Carlo method

This paper reviews the practical problems associated with staging large scale Monte Carlo neutronics problems on an electronic computer. In advance of solving the problem the basic nuclear data require to be first assessed, then processed in such a way as to allow the subsequent Monte Carlo calculations to proceed flexibly. Thsi aspect of solving Monte Carlo neutronics problems, seldom addressed in the literature, is reviewed in Section 2. After defining different types of neutronics calculations, each of which presents its own individual problems, two case histories are described in Section 4. A final summary describes our present attitudes towards the subject.