Visual Editor Consultants
Contact:

Randy A. Schwarz

Introduction to MCNP Using the MCNP/MCNPX Visual Editor

MCNP has needed a graphics interface for a long time. The Visual Editor provides this interface, and much, much more. The code displays geometry, of course, but can also be used to create geometry and display 3-D depictions of modeled objects with various color schemes. These features make the code and the training provided by the class essential to anyone who has wondered if an MCNP input file depicted the problem geometry accurately, assigned the materials to the right cells, and placed the sources properly. In addition, the code can plot tallies, and can plot points where source particles are created, where collisions occur, and where interactions that contribute to tallies take place. Such plots reveal phenomena like radiation streaming, and show which parts of the model contribute to tallies.

Every MCNP user should acquire the Visual Editor and participate in the Visual Editor Consultants class. The gains in analytical power and productivity will far outweigh the expenditure of time and money.
    - Carl Koizumi, September 2004 Visual Editor class.

I would certainly recommend the class to any of my colleagues who plan to use the code.  In fact, I plan to discuss the code with our Nuclear Systems Analysis Division and send them your way.  The following is an excerpt from my trip report:

"The Visual Editor provides tools for creating complex geometries rather easily and includes error checking and 2-D & 3-D visualization to assist in the interpretation.  When you look at the code that is generated you can only wonder as to how it would be possible to do this otherwise and how you could ever validate that what you have is what you want or is correct."

   Cye Waldman - Information Systems Laboratories  - September 2007

The MCNP Visual Editor is a critical element to developing MCNP models.  Flaws with geometry and other MCNP errors are easily identified, saving countless hours of debugging.  Plotting particle tracks has proved particularly useful for radiation shielding, as scattering paths are easily identified.  As a daily user of MCNP, the Visual Editor has a permanent spot on my “Quick Launch” bar.

September 2007