In this project, there are two primary objectives: To demonstrate proof of concept for the MCNP unstructured mesh methodology by comparing a CSG dolphin to a UM dolphin. Followed by creating a mesh and performing radiation transport calculations on the NASA Satellite Dawn. This will also include doing research to properly simulate the natural radiation environment in space, the material composition of the Dawn satellite, and the effects of a nuclear weapon detonation targeting the satellite.

The purpose of this project is to create detailed designs for criticality experiments sensitive to iron and chromium in the low intermediate, high intermediate, and fast neutron energy ranges. The experiments are designed for the Comet Critical assembly, located at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), which is managed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Determination of specific materials for use in the experiment including the assembly reflector, fuel plates, iron/chromium test plates, and moderator plates is executed.

There have been two major experiments in attempt to measure the neutron lifetime, the magnetic bottle method and the beam method. Unfortunately these two methods have provided neutron lifetimes with several seconds of error. Our goal is to set the groundwork for an experiment that can more accurately measure the neutron lifetime in hopes of finding a consistent answer to this universal question.