The conventional particle transport Monte
Carlo algorithm is ill suited for modem
vector supercomputers because the
random nature of the particle transport
process in the history based algorithm in
hibits construction of vectors. An alterna
tive, event-based algorithm is suitable for
vectorization and has been used recently
to achieve impressive gains in perfor
mance on vector supercomputers. This re
view describes the event-based algorithm
and several variations of it Implementa
tions of this algorithm for applications in
particle transport are described, and their
relative merits are discussed. The imple
mentation of Monte Carlo methods on
multiple vector parallel processors is con
sidered, as is the potential of massively
parallel processors for Monte Carlo par
ticle transport simulations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Amdahl, G.1967. Validity of the single processor approach to achieving large scale computing capabilities. Proc. Spring Joint Conf. AFIPS30:483-485.
2.
Asai, K., Higuchi, K., and Katakura, J.1986. Vectorization of the KENO-IV code. Nucl. Sci. Eng.92:298-302.
3.
Bobrowicz, F.W., Lynch, J.E., Fisher, K.J., and Tabor, J.E.1984. Vectorized Monte Carlo photon transport. Parallel Comput.1:295-305.
4.
Brown, F.B.1981. Vectorized Monte Carlo. Ph.D. thesis. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Department of Nuclear Engineering.
5.
Brown, F.B.1983. Vectorized Monte Carlo methods for reactor lattice analysis . In Proc. topical meeting on advances in reactor computations. La-Grange Park, Illinois: American Nuclear Society, pp. 108-123.
6.
Brown, F.B.1986. Vectorization of 3-D general-geometry Monte Carlo . Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.53:283-284.
7.
Brown, F.B., and Martin, W.R.1985. Monte Carlo methods for radiation transport analysis on vector computers. Progr. Nuclear Energy14:269-299.
8.
Brown, F.B., and Mendelson, M.R.1984. Vectorized Monte Carlo applications in reactor physics analysis. Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.46:727-728.
9.
Brown, F.B., Calahan, D.A., and Martin, W.R.1981. Investigation of vectorized Monte Carlo algorithms . Ann Arbor: University of Michigan , Department of Nuclear Engineering.
10.
Brown, F.B., Martin, W.R., and Calahan, D.A.1981. Investigation of vectorized Monte Carlo algorithms . Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.39:755-756.
11.
Bucher, I.Y., and Simmons, M.L.1985. Performance assessment of supercomputers. LA-UR-85-1505 . Los Alamos: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Computing and Communication Division.
12.
Calahan, D.A., and Martin, W.R.1980. Final report for preliminary studies on vectorized Monte Carlo forLos Alamos National Laboratory. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Department of Nuclear Engineering.
13.
Chauvet, Y.1984. Multitasking a vectorized Monte Carlo algorithm on the Cray-X/MP2. CrayChannels6(3).
14.
Chauvet, Y.1985. Vectorization and multitasking with a Monte Carlo code for neutron transport problems. In Proc. LANL-CEA meeting on recent applications of the Monte Carlo method. CEA-CONF 7902.
15.
Dongarra, J.J.1986. Performance of various computers using standard linear equations software in a Fortran environment. Tech. Memo. 23. Argonne, Illinois: Argonne National Laboratory.
16.
Fisher, K.J.1986. Vectorized Monte Carlo radiation transport. LA-UR-86-3737 . Los Alamos: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Computing and Communication Division.
17.
Hockney, R.W., and Jesshope, C.R.1981. Parallel computers. Bristol, Great Britain: Adam Hilger Ltd.
18.
Los Alamos Monte Carlo Group.1981. MCNP—A general Monte Carlo code for neutron and photon transport. LA-7396-M (revised). Los Alamos: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Group X-6.
19.
Martin, W.R.1983. Vectorized Monte Carlo on the Cyber-205. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Department of Nuclear Engineering.
20.
Martin, W.R., and Calahan, D.A.1982. Vectorized Monte Carlo for nonlinear radiation transport . Tram. Amer. Nucl. Soc.43:399-400.
21.
Martin, W.R., Nowak, P.F., and Rathkopf, J.A.1986. Monte Carlo photon transport on a vector supercomputer . IBM J. Res. Develop.30:193-202.
22.
Martin, W.R., Poland, D., Wan, T.C., Mudge, T.N., and Abdel-Rahman, T.S.1987. Monte Carlo photon transport on the NCUBE. In Proc. second conf. on hypercube multiprocessors. New York: SIAM , in press.
23.
Martin W.R., Rathkopf, J.A., and Nowak, P.F.1985. Vectorized Monte Carlo photon transport on the Cray-XMP . Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.50:278-279.
24.
Straker, E.W., Scott, W.H., and Byrn, N.R.1970. The MORSE general purpose Monte Carlo multigroup neutron and gamma ray transport code with combinatorial geometry. USAEC Report ORNL-4585 . Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
25.
Troubetzkoy, E., Steinberg, H., and Kalos, M.1973. Monte Carlo radiation penetration calculations on a parallel computer. Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.17:260.
26.
Wan, T.C., and Martin, W.R.1986. Parallel algorithms for photon transport Monte Carlo. Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc.53:285-286.
