Verification and Validation of the G4Anubis/RADAR Tool for External Gamma Radiation Studies

Context
In radiation protection, reliable estimation of external gamma dose rates is required for shielding assessment, workplace ALARA studies, and decommissioning support. Computational tools are widely used for this purpose. Monte Carlo transport codes such as MCNP, PHITS, and RayXpert provide detailed particle transport capabilities, while point-kernel methods (e.g., MicroShield) are used for faster, approximate dose calculations.

This thesis concerns external radiation protection with a focus on gamma radiation. The work evaluates G4Anubis/RADAR, a stand-alone tool developed at SCK CEN. Users configure geometry and sources via a graphical interface; the calculation engines are internal. The tool integrates two engines:

- a Monte Carlo engine (internally using Geant4)
- a point-kernel engine.

The objective is to verify the tool against established codes and to validate it against experimental measurements, then define clear ways to present dose results (profiles, heatmaps, volumetric maps).

Work Description

1. Verification (code-to-code): Execute a graded set of benchmark cases (from free-in-air point source to room-scale shielding) with G4Anubis/RADAR and compare with MCNP, PHITS, RayXpert (Monte Carlo) and MicroShield (point-kernel). Quantify agreement, uncertainties, and run-time/precision.
2. Validation (code-to-experiment): Perform traceable measurements of H*(10) in a controlled setup (SCK CEN calibration laboratory or a temporary waste storage facility) and compare with simulations under matched conditions.
3. Result presentation: Evaluate 1D profiles, 2D dose-grid heatmaps (linear/log), and 3D dose distributions, with explicit units and color-scale conventions.

Learning Outcomes

• Experience with verification and validation of radiation protection software.
• Knowledge of methodologies for external gamma dose rate and shielding studies.
• Practical skills in designing and executing benchmark comparisons and experimental validations.
• Familiarity with methods for visualizing and communicating dose distributions.

Expected Results

• Verification of G4Anubis/RADAR against Monte Carlo and point-kernel reference codes for external gamma radiation problems.
• A validation case demonstrating consistency with experimental measurements.
• Recommendations on suitable approaches for presenting dose results in external radiation protection studies.
  
  

This thesis is intended for students in the final year of a Master’s programme in Nuclear Engineering or Informatics. Candidates should have:

• A basic understanding of radiation protection concepts.
• Interest in computational modelling, benchmarking, and validation studies.
• Programming or data analysis skills (e.g., Python) are an advantage for handling simulation results and visualizations.