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Recent Updates to the Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool (ORSAT) Version 7.1

The Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool (ORSAT) code is maintained and used by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) and has been under continuous development and improvement since the mid-1990s. ORSAT is an object-oriented reentry simulation tool; it models a satellite as a collection of discrete components that follow independent trajectories upon the breakup of the parent object. Version 7.1 of the tool incorporates five years of new thermal and aerodynamic model development, multi-processor parametric study capability, codebase upgrades, and numerous bug-fixes. The thermal demise model was completely rewritten using a forward-time/central-space numerical stencil and incorporating a new pyrolysis model for fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials. New aerodynamic and aeroheating models for hollow cylinders and hollow square prisms were developed using a combination of flow simulations in the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) Analysis Code (DAC) and Data Parallel Line Relaxation (DPLR) code and free-flight tests in the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Hypersonic Wind Tunnel. The latest version also incorporates a mechanical, strength-based demise model for FRP materials. Minor improvements include an update to the Fortran 2018 codebase; improved integration and speed with the Python-based, multi-core, parametric study tool, AutoORSAT; and fixes for many minor bugs. This new version of ORSAT will enable more accurate reentry risk assessments for modern satellites. This paper presents an overview of these changes and a summary of the verification and validation performed on the final code.

Benton R. Greene↗

Recent Updates to the Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool (ORSAT) Version 7.1

The Object Reentry Survival Analysis Tool (ORSAT) code is maintained and used by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) and has been under continuous development and improvement since the mid-1990s. ORSAT is an object-oriented reentry simulation tool; it models a satellite as a collection of discrete components that follow independent trajectories upon the breakup of the parent object. Version 7.1 of the tool incorporates five years of new thermal and aerodynamic model development, multi-processor parametric study capability, codebase upgrades, and numerous bug-fixes. The thermal demise model was completely rewritten using a forward-time/central-space numerical stencil and incorporating a new pyrolysis model for fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials. New aerodynamic and aeroheating models for hollow cylinders and hollow square prisms were developed using a combination of flow simulations in the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) Analysis Code (DAC) and Data Parallel Line Relaxation (DPLR) code and free-flight tests in the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Hypersonic Wind Tunnel. The latest version also incorporates a mechanical, strength-based demise model for FRP materials. Minor improvements include an update to the Fortran 2018 codebase; improved integration and speed with the Python-based, multi-core, parametric study tool, AutoORSAT; and fixes for many minor bugs. This new version of ORSAT will enable more accurate reentry risk assessments for modern satellites. This paper presents an overview of these changes and a summary of the verification and validation performed on the final code.

Benton R. Greene↗

Threadsafe Dynamic Neighbor Lists for Monte Carlo Ray Tracing

Monte Carlo (MC) transport codes offer high-fidelity modeling of particle transport physics, but their high computational cost makes them impractical for many applications. For some applications such as multiphysics and depletion that use finely discretized geometries, a large portion of this computational cost is attributable to ray tracing. Neighbor lists are a well-known method for accelerating ray-tracing calculations in a MC code, but despite their prevalence, little work has been published on the details of their implementation. The fine details can have a significant impact on performance, particularly when using shared-memory parallelism. This paper addresses these details of implementation with a discussion of different neighbor list schemes and their impact on software runtime. Performance tests were run by using OpenMC on a pin-cell problem discretized with up to 200 axial regions. The results demonstrate that switching from surface-based to cell-based neighbor lists leads to a 10 faster calculation rate for the most fine discretization. Finally, using a threadsafe shared-memory data structure results in a 20% faster calculation rate versus simple threadprivate neighbor lists. Results here show that a data structure that is contiguous in memory improves performance by only 1% to 2% over noncontiguous linked lists.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

THE STABILITY OF LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS DISKS BASED ON MULTI-WAVELENGTH MODELING

To investigate the structure and composition of the dusty interstellar medium (ISM) of low surface brightness (LSB) disk galaxies, we have used multi-wavelength photometry to construct spectral energy distributions for three low-mass, edge-on LSB galaxies (V{sub rot} = 88-105 km s{sup -1}). We use Monte Carlo radiation transfer codes that include the effects of transiently heated small grains and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules to model and interpret the data. We find that, unlike the high surface brightness galaxies previously modeled, the dust disks appear to have scale heights equal to or exceeding their stellar scale heights. This result supports the findings of previous studies that low-mass disk galaxies have dust scale heights comparable to their stellar scale heights and suggests that the cold ISM of low-mass, LSB disk galaxies may be stable against fragmentation and gravitational collapse. This may help to explain the lack of observed dust lanes in edge-on LSB galaxies and their low current star formation rates. Dust masses are found in the range (1.16-2.38) x 10{sup 6} M{sub sun}, corresponding to face-on (edge-on), V-band, optical depths 0.034 {approx}< {tau}{sub face} {approx}< 0.106 (0.69 {approx}< {tau}{sub eq} {approx}< 1.99).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

MODELING THE RESOLVED DISK AROUND THE CLASS 0 PROTOSTAR L1527

We present high-resolution sub/millimeter interferometric imaging of the Class 0 protostar L1527 IRS (IRAS 04368+2557) at {lambda} = 870 {mu}m and 3.4 mm from the Submillimeter Array and Combined Array for Research in Millimeter Astronomy. We detect the signature of an edge-on disk surrounding the protostar with an observed diameter of 180 AU in the sub/millimeter images. The mass of the disk is estimated to be 0.007 M{sub Sun }, assuming optically thin, isothermal dust emission. The millimeter spectral index is observed to be quite shallow at all the spatial scales probed: {alpha} {approx} 2, implying a dust opacity spectral index {beta} {approx} 0. We model the emission from the disk and surrounding envelope using Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes, simultaneously fitting the sub/millimeter visibility amplitudes, sub/millimeter images, resolved L' image, spectral energy distribution, and mid-infrared spectrum. The best-fitting model has a disk radius of R = 125 AU, is highly flared (H{proportional_to}R {sup 1.3}), has a radial density profile {rho}{proportional_to}R {sup -2.5}, and has a mass of 0.0075 M{sub Sun }. The scale height at 100 AU is 48 AU, about a factor of two greater than vertical hydrostatic equilibrium. The resolved millimeter observations indicate that disks may grow rapidly throughout the Class 0 phase. The mass and radius of the young disk around L1527 are comparable to disks around pre-main-sequence stars; however, the disk is considerably more vertically extended, possibly due to a combination of lower protostellar mass, infall onto the disk upper layers, and little settling of {approx}1 {mu}m-sized dust grains.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A HERSCHEL SURVEY OF COLD DUST IN DISKS AROUND BROWN DWARFS AND LOW-MASS STARS

We report the complete photometric results from our Herschel study which is the first comprehensive program to search for far-infrared emission from cold dust around young brown dwarfs (BDs). We surveyed 50 fields containing 51 known or suspected BDs and very low mass stars that have evidence of circumstellar disks based on Spitzer photometry and/or spectroscopy. The objects with known spectral types range from M3 to M9.5. Four of the candidates were subsequently identified as extragalactic objects. Of the remaining 47 we have successfully detected 36 at 70 {mu}m and 14 at 160 {mu}m with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) greater than 3, as well as several additional possible detections with low S/N. The objects exhibit a range of [24]-[70] {mu}m colors suggesting a range in mass and/or structure of the outer disk. We present modeling of the spectral energy distributions of the sample and discuss trends visible in the data. Using two Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes we investigate disk masses and geometry. We find a very wide range in modeled total disk masses from less than 10{sup -6} M{sub Sun} up to 10{sup -3} M{sub Sun} with a median disk mass of the order of 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -5} M{sub Sun }, suggesting that the median ratio of disk mass to central object mass may be lower than for T Tauri stars. The disk scale heights and flaring angles, however, cover a range consistent with those seen around T Tauri stars. The host clouds in which the young BDs and low-mass stars are located span a range in estimated age from {approx}1-3 Myr to {approx}10 Myr and represent a variety of star-forming environments. No obvious dependence on cloud location or age is seen in the disk properties, though the statistical significance of this conclusion is not strong.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Analysis of burnup and isotopic compositions of BWR 9 x 9 UO{sub 2} fuel assemblies

In order to extend isotopic composition data focusing on fission product nuclides, measurements are progressing using facilities of JAEA for five samples taken from high burnup BWR 9 x 9 UO{sub 2} fuel assemblies. Neutronics analysis with an infinite assembly model was applied to the preliminary measurement data using a continuous-energy Monte Carlo burnup calculation code MVP-BURN with nuclear libraries based on JENDL-3.3 and JENDL-4.0. The burnups of the samples were determined to be 28.0, 39.3, 56.6, 68.1, and 64.0 GWd/t by the Nd-148 method. They were compared with those calculated using node-average irradiation histories of power and in-channel void fractions which were taken from the plant data. The comparison results showed that the deviations of the calculated burnups from the measurements were -4 to 3%. It was confirmed that adopting the nuclear data library based on JENDL-4.0 reduced the deviations of the calculated isotopic compositions from the measurements for {sup 238}Pu, {sup 144}Nd, {sup 145}Nd, {sup 146}Nd, {sup 148}Nd, {sup 134}Cs, {sup 154}Eu, {sup 152}Sm, {sup 154}Gd, and {sup 157}Gd. On the other hand, the effect of the revision in the nuclear. data library on the neutronics analysis was not significant for major U and Pu isotopes. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

SU-F-T-115: Uncertainty in the Esophagus Dose in Retrospective Epidemiological Study of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Patients

Purpose: Epidemiological studies of second cancer risks in breast cancer radiotherapy patients often use generic patient anatomy to reconstruct normal tissue doses when CT images of patients are not available. To evaluate the uncertainty involved in the dosimetry approach, we evaluated the esophagus dose in five sample patients by simulating breast cancer treatments. Methods: We obtained the diagnostic CT images of five anonymized adult female patients in different Body Mass Index (BMI) categories (16– 36kg/m2) from National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. We contoured the esophagus on the CT images and imported them into a Treatment Planning System (TPS) to create treatment plans and calculate esophagus doses. Esophagus dose was calculated once again via experimentally-validated Monte Carlo (MC) transport code, XVMC under the same geometries. We compared the esophagus doses from TPS and the MC method. We also investigated the degree of variation in the esophagus dose across the five patients and also the relationship between the patient characteristics and the esophagus doses. Results: Eclipse TPS using Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA) significantly underestimates the esophagus dose in breast cancer radiotherapy compared to MC. In the worst case, the esophagus dose from AAA was only 40% of the MC dose. The Coefficient of Variation across the patients was 48%. We found that the maximum esophagus dose was up to 2.7 times greater than the minimum. We finally observed linear relationship (Dose = 0.0218 × BMI – 0.1, R2=0.54) between patient’s BMI and the esophagus doses. Conclusion: We quantified the degree of uncertainty in the esophagus dose in five sample breast radiotherapy patients. The results of the study underscore the importance of individualized dose reconstruction for the study cohort to avoid misclassification in the risk analysis of second cancer. We are currently extending the number of patients up to 30.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

CONSTRAINING THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRAL FEATURES AND THE LOCATIONS OF PLANETARY BODIES WITHIN THE AB AUR SYSTEM

We present a new analysis of multi-epoch, H -band, scattered light images of the AB Aur system. We use a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to simultaneously model the system’s spectral energy distribution (SED) and H -band polarized intensity (PI) imagery. We find that a disk-dominated model, as opposed to one that is envelope-dominated, can plausibly reproduce AB Aur’s SED and near-IR imagery. This is consistent with previous modeling attempts presented in the literature and supports the idea that at least a subset of AB Aur’s spirals originate within the disk. In light of this, we also analyzed the movement of spiral structures in multi-epoch H -band total light and PI imagery of the disk. We detect no significant rotation or change in spatial location of the spiral structures in these data, which span a 5.8-year baseline. If such structures are caused by disk–planet interactions, the lack of observed rotation constrains the location of the orbit of planetary perturbers to be >47 au.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Simulations of a high-density, highly-radiating lithium divertor

Results are presented for one- and two-dimensional (2D) edge plasma transport simulations for strong injection of lithium (Li) in the divertor region of a tokamak. The model includes the scrape-off layer and divertor regions, and, for 2D, a small region inside the magnetic separtrix. Equations are solved for the density and momentum of a deuterium/tritium (DT) species and all three charge states of Li, in addition to separate ion and electron energy equations via the UEDGE code. Equations are also included for the DT and Li gas species. Lithium gas is injected from the side walls or divertor plate, implying that these surfaces are evaporating liquid Li. For a range of Li gas input, steady-state, detached-plasma solutions are shown where greater than 90% of the exhaust power is radiated by Li, resulting in peak surface heat fluxes ~2 MW/m 2 on the divertor plate, outer wall, and private-flux wall. While Li ions dominate in the divertor leg, their density is in the range of 10% of the DT density at the midplane. The collisional parallel thermal force plays a key role in determining the midplane ion Li density, and sensitivity of results to different model assumptions are discussed. Here the key issue is possible dilution of the core DT fuel. A brief comparison of the Li neutral solution is made with that from the Direct Simulation Monte-Carlo (DSMC) SPARTA code.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

FAR-ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATIONS OF THE TAURUS-PERSEUS-AURIGA COMPLEX

We have constructed a far-ultraviolet (FUV) continuum map of the Taurus-Auriga-Perseus complex, one of the largest local associations of dark clouds, by merging the two data sets of Galaxy Evolution Explorer and FUV Imaging Spectrograph, which made observations at similar wavelengths. The FUV intensity varies significantly across the whole region, but the diffuse FUV continuum is dominated by dust scattering of stellar photons. A diffuse FUV background of {approx}1000 CU is observed, part of which may be attributable to the scattered photons of foreground FUV light, located in front of the thick clouds. The fluorescent emission of molecular hydrogen constitutes {approx}10% of the total FUV intensity throughout the region, generally proportional to the local continuum level. We have developed a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code and applied it to the present clouds complex to obtain the optical properties of dust grains and the geometrical structures of the clouds. The albedo and the phase function asymmetry factor were estimated to be 0.42{sup +0.05}{sub -0.05}, and 0.47{sup +0.11}{sub -0.27}, respectively, in accordance with theoretical estimations as well as recent observations. The distance and thickness of the four prominent clouds in this complex were estimated using a single-slab model applied individually to each cloud. The results obtained were in good agreement with those from other observations of the Taurus cloud, as its geometrical structure is rather simple. For other clouds that were observed to have multiple components, the results gave distances and thicknesses encompassing all of the components of each cloud. The distance and thickness estimations were not crucially sensitive to the exact values of the albedo and the phase function asymmetry factor, while the locations of the bright field stars relative to the clouds as initial photon sources seem to be the most important factor in the process of fitting.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A new 'Implicit correlation' method for cross-correlation sampling in MCNPX-PoliMi

Monte Carlo particle transport codes used to accurately model detector response are traditionally run in fully analog mode. Analog simulations of cross-correlation measurements with these codes are extremely time-consuming because the probability of correlated detection is extremely small, approximately equal to the product of the probabilities of a single detection in each detector. The new 'implicit correlation' method described here increases the number of correlation event scores thereby reducing variance and required computation times. The cost of the implicit correlation method is comparable to the cost of simulating single event detection for the lowest absolute detector efficiency in the problem. This method is especially useful in the nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards fields for simulating correlation measurements of shielded special nuclear material. The new method was implemented in MCNPX-PoliMi for neutron-neutron cross-correlations with a Cf-252 spontaneous fission source measured by two detectors of variable stand-offs. The method demonstrated good agreement with analog simulation results for multiple measurement geometries. Small differences between non-analog and analog cross-correlation distributions are attributed to known features of the specific problem simulated that will not be present in practical applications. (authors)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Midplane neutral density profiles in the National Spherical Torus Experiment

Atomic and molecular density data in the outer midplane of NSTX [Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000)] are inferred from tangential camera data via a forward modeling procedure using the DEGAS 2 Monte Carlo neutral transport code. The observed Balmer-b light emission data from 17 shots during the 2010 NSTX campaign display no obvious trends with discharge parameters such as the divertor Balmer-a emission level or edge deuterium ion density. Simulations of 12 time slices in 7 of these discharges produce molecular densities near the vacuum vessel wall of 2–8 x 10 17 m -3 and atomic densities ranging from 1 to 7 x 10 16 m -3 ; neither has a clear correlation with other parameters. Validation of the technique, begun in an earlier publication, is continued with an assessment of the sensitivity of the simulated camera image and neutral densities to uncertainties in the data input to the model. The simulated camera image is sensitive to the plasma profiles and virtually nothing else. The neutral densities at the vessel wall depend most strongly on the spatial distribution of the source; simulations with a localized neutral source yield densities within a factor of two of the baseline, uniform source, case. The uncertainties in the neutral densities associated with other model inputs and assumptions are ≤ 50%.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Mobile Pit verification system design based on passive special nuclear material verification in weapons storage facilities

A mobile 'drive by' passive radiation detection system to be applied in special nuclear materials (SNM) storage facilities for validation and compliance purposes has been designed through the use of computational modeling and new radiation detection methods. This project was the result of work over a 1 year period to create optimal design specifications to include creation of 3D models using both Monte Carlo and deterministic codes to characterize the gamma and neutron leakage out each surface of SNM-bearing canisters. Results were compared and agreement was demonstrated between both models. Container leakages were then used to determine the expected reaction rates using transport theory in the detectors when placed at varying distances from the can. A 'typical' background signature was incorporated to determine the minimum signatures versus the probability of detection to evaluate moving source protocols with collimation. This established the criteria for verification of source presence and time gating at a given vehicle speed. New methods for the passive detection of SNM were employed and shown to give reliable identification of age and material for highly enriched uranium (HEU) and weapons grade plutonium (WGPu). The finalized 'Mobile Pit Verification System' (MPVS) design demonstrated that a 'drive-by' detection system, collimated and operating at nominally 2 mph, is capable of rapidly verifying each and every weapon pit stored in regularly spaced, shelved storage containers, using completely passive gamma and neutron signatures for HEU and WGPu. This system is ready for real evaluation to demonstrate passive total material accountability in storage facilities. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Experimental validation of a high fidelity Monte Carlo neutron transport model of the MIT graphite exponential pile

High-fidelity modeling and simulation were performed for the MIT graphite exponential pile (MGEP) using Monte Carlo neutron transport codes OpenMC and MCNP, and the results were validated by experimental data. The MGEP is being used as the test bed for the design of an autonomous control system for the pile's neutron flux distribution. The main contribution of this work is to generate the training data sets of neutron flux distributions with different locations of control rods that perturb the neutron flux profiles. First, code -to-code cross verification between OpenMC and MCNP was performed to ensure consistency of the numerical modeling within statistical uncertainties. To validate the accuracy of this high-fidelity model, a series of neutron flux measurements were conducted using a Helium-3 (He-3) neutron detector on a mobile platform that is placed inside the pile. Second, the neutron flux profiles were measured in four vertical layers of interest, and compared to the corresponding simulation results. The comparison results shows that the root mean square error is less than 2.5% in the two upper layers, and less than 4.5% in all four measured layers. Here the results validated the accuracy of the modeling and simulation. Finally, the relative change of the neutron flux profiles from moving control rods was analyzed, which identified the layer that has the best sensitivity regarding the control rods movements. Thus, this work identified and provided training data sets of both simulated and experimental neutron flux profiles in the most sensitive layer, paving the path forward to the real-time experimental demonstration of the autonomous control system.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

SU-E-T-559: Monte Carlo Simulation of Cobalt-60 Teletherapy Unit Modeling In-Field and Out-Of-Field Doses for Applications in Computational Radiation Dosimetry

Purpose: Mean organ doses from structures located in field and outside of field boundaries during radiotherapy treatment must be considered when looking at secondary effects. Treatment planning in patients with 40 years of follow-up does not include 3-D treatment planning images and did not estimate dose to structures out of the direct field. Therefore, it is of interest to correlate actual clinical events with doses received. Methods: Accurate models of radiotherapy machines combined with whole body computational phantoms using Monte Carlo methods allow for dose reconstructions intended for studies on late radiation effects. The Theratron-780 radiotherapy unit and anatomically realistic hybrid computational phantoms are modeled in the Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNPX. The major components of the machine including the source capsule, lead in the unit-head, collimators (fixed/adjustable), and trimmer bars are simulated. The MCNPX transport code is used to compare calculated values in a water phantom with published data from BJR suppl. 25 for in-field doses and experimental data from AAPM Task Group No. 36 for out-of-field doses. Next, the validated cobalt-60 teletherapy model is combined with the UF/NCI Family of Reference Hybrid Computational Phantoms as a methodology for estimating organ doses. Results: The model of Theratron-780 has shown to be agree with percentage depth dose data within approximately 1% and for out of field doses the machine is shown to agree within 8.8%. Organ doses are reported for reference hybrid phantoms. Conclusion: Combining the UF/NCI Family of Reference Hybrid Computational Phantoms along with a validated model of the Theratron-780 allows for organ dose estimates of both in-field and out-of-field organs. By changing field size, position, and adding patient-specific blocking more complicated treatment set-ups can be recreated for patients treated historically, particularly those who lack both 2D/3D image sets.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

PANCHROMATIC IMAGING OF A TRANSITIONAL DISK: THE DISK OF GM AUR IN OPTICAL AND FUV SCATTERED LIGHT

We have imaged GM Aurigae with the Hubble Space Telescope , detected its disk in scattered light at 1400 and 1650 Å, and compared these with observations at 3300 Å, 5550 Å, 1.1 μ m, and 1.6 μ m. The scattered light increases at shorter wavelengths. The radial surface brightness profile at 3300 Å shows no evidence of the 24 au radius cavity that has been previously observed in submillimeter observations. Comparison with dust grain opacity models indicates that the surface of the entire disk is populated with submicron grains. We have compiled a spectral energy distribution from 0.1 μ m to 1 mm and used it to constrain a model of the star + disk system that includes the submillimeter cavity using the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code by Barbara Whitney. The best-fit model image indicates that the cavity should be detectable in the F330W bandpass if the cavity has been cleared of both large and small dust grains, but we do not detect it. The lack of an observed cavity can be explained by the presence of submicron grains interior to the submillimeter cavity wall. We suggest one explanation for this that could be due to a planet of mass <9 M {sub J} interior to 24 au. A unique cylindrical structure is detected in the far-UV data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys/Solar Blind Channel. It is aligned along the system semiminor axis, but does not resemble an accretion-driven jet. The structure is limb brightened and extends 190 ± 35 au above the disk midplane. The inner radius of the limb brightening is 40 ± 10 au, just beyond the submillimeter cavity wall.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

SU-F-I-53: Coded Aperture Coherent Scatter Spectral Imaging of the Breast: A Monte Carlo Evaluation of Absorbed Dose

Purpose: Coherent scatter based imaging has shown improved contrast and molecular specificity over conventional digital mammography however the biological risks have not been quantified due to a lack of accurate information on absorbed dose. This study intends to characterize the dose distribution and average glandular dose from coded aperture coherent scatter spectral imaging of the breast. The dose deposited in the breast from this new diagnostic imaging modality has not yet been quantitatively evaluated. Here, various digitized anthropomorphic phantoms are tested in a Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the absorbed dose distribution and average glandular dose using clinically feasible scan protocols. Methods: Geant4 Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation software is used to replicate the coded aperture coherent scatter spectral imaging system. Energy sensitive, photon counting detectors are used to characterize the x-ray beam spectra for various imaging protocols. This input spectra is cross-validated with the results from XSPECT, a commercially available application that yields x-ray tube specific spectra for the operating parameters employed. XSPECT is also used to determine the appropriate number of photons emitted per mAs of tube current at a given kVp tube potential. With the implementation of the XCAT digital anthropomorphic breast phantom library, a variety of breast sizes with differing anatomical structure are evaluated. Simulations were performed with and without compression of the breast for dose comparison. Results: Through the Monte Carlo evaluation of a diverse population of breast types imaged under real-world scan conditions, a clinically relevant average glandular dose for this new imaging modality is extrapolated. Conclusion: With access to the physical coherent scatter imaging system used in the simulation, the results of this Monte Carlo study may be used to directly influence the future development of the modality to keep breast dose to a minimum while still maintaining clinically viable image quality.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗