The Effect of Dilution on the Covariance of Multigroup Cross Sections

Abstract

Simulation results are of little use if nothing is known about the uncertainty in the results. In order to assess the uncertainty in a set of output parameters due to uncertainty in a set of input parameters, knowledge of the covariance between input parameters is required. Current practice is to apply the covariance between multigroup cross sections at infinite dilution to all cross sections including those at non-infinite dilutions. In this work, the effect of dilution on multigroup cross section covariance is investigated as well as the effect on the covariance between the few group homogenized cross sections produced by lattice code DRAGON.