Neutron transport solver parallelization using a Domain Decomposition method

A domain decomposition (DD) method is investigated for the parallel solution of the second-order even-parity form of the time-independent Boltzmann transport equation. The spatial discretization is performed using finite elements, and the angular discretization using spherical harmonic expansions (PN method). The main idea developed here is due to P.L. Lions. It consists in having sub-domains exchanging not only interface point flux values, but also interface flux 'derivative' values. (The word 'derivative' is here used with quotes, because in the case considered here, it in fact consists in the Ω.∇ operator, with Ω the angular variable vector and ∇ the spatial gradient operator.) A parameter α is introduced, as proportionality coefficient between point flux and 'derivative' values. This parameter can be tuned - so far heuristically - to optimize the method. (authors)