MCNPX simulations of the experiments with relativistic protons directed to thick, lead targets

For testing the basic principles of accelerator-driven systems, experiments with relativistic protons directed on thick, lead targets were performed in the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russia using the Phasotron and Nuclotron accelerators. Produced neutron and proton fluxes were studied at different locations of the experimental setup using activation detectors. In this paper, experimental results obtained using the “Phasotron setup”, a bare lead target, and the “Energy plus Transmutation setup”, composed of a lead target, surrounded with a uranium blanket, are presented. The MCNPX code was used to study the possible sources of systematic uncertainties and to estimate the influence of different parts of the experimental setups. Simulated results were compared with experimental findings.