NE 523 Computational Transport Theory
3 Credit Hours
Derivation of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation for a rarefied gas and linearization to the equation of transport of neutral particles. Deterministic methods for solving the neutron transport equation: Multigroup energy discretization; Discrete Ordinates angular discretization; various spatial discretization methods. Convergence of numerical solutions with discretization refinement. Iterative solution algorithms: inner, outer, and power iterations. Spectral analysis of inner iterations convergence and acceleration. Selection of advanced topics.
Prerequisites
- NE 401/501: Reactor Analysis and Design.
- Advanced math & moderate programming skills are necessary. Permissible programming languages: Fortran or C++
Course Learning Outcomes
- Explain the physics foundation of the neutron transport equation (NTE) and its underlying assumptions
- Identify relationships among various numerical methods employed in solving the NTE
- Analyze and justify discretization methods in energy, angle, and space for computationally solving the NTE
- Apply spectral analysis to predict performance of iterative algorithms for solving the NTE
- Implement new Fortran or C++ code or maintain existing code for solving the NTE
Course Requirements
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Homework | 20% |
| Code Assignments | 20% |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Midterm | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
Policy on late submission of Homework & Code Assignments:
- Up to one week past due date
- Grade reduced by 50%
- No credit for homework submitted more than one week past the due date
Textbook
E. E. Lewis and W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society (1993) – $70
Created: 10/05/2026.
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