GENERALIZED FUNCTION SOLUTIONS TO THE FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION.
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
In problems involving highly forward-peaked scattering, the Boltzmann transport equation can be simplified using the Fokker-Planck model. The purpose of this project was to develop an analytical solution to the resulting Fokker-Planck equation. This analytical solution can then be used to benchmark numerical transport codes. A numerical solution to the Fokker-Planck equation was also developed. The analytical solution found is a generalized function. It satisfies the purpose of the project with two limitations. The first limitation is that the solution can only be evaluated for certain sources. The second limitation is that the solution can only be evaluated for small times. The moments of the Fokker-Planck equation can be evaluated for any time. The numerical solution developed works for all sources and all times. The analytical solution, then, provides an accurate and precise benchmark under certain conditions. The numerical solution provides a less accurate benchmark under all conditions.Type
textDissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Nuclear and Energy EngineeringGraduate College