BUILDING THE INPUT FILES FOR THE MCSHAPE CODE

The user has to create only two input files to define the target composition and the configuration of the X-ray source, respectively.

These files can be created using a text editor. A simple interactive program is under construction to edit these two data files in the format requested by MCSHAPE v.2.60. The preprocessing code MCinput v 2.10 can be used to edit a sample with only ONE layer (click here for an interactive example).

Warning! MCSHAPE v2.60 is not compatible with earlier versions of MCinput 2.10!

In what follows, there is a short description of these input files, illustrated with a simple example.

Let us assume as example a target of water having 0.5 cm thickness.

1. SAMPLE.DAT - The following file gives the sample composition.

mcshape 203   version compatibility monodimensional   transport model 1              number of layers 2              number of elements H 1 0.1119   chemical symbol  atomic number  concentration O 8 0.8881   1.0              density [g/cm3] 0.5              thickness [cm]

It should be created within the directory SAMPLES\WATER

2. AM241.DAT - This file contains the geometrical configuration and the characteristics of the source.

Example (Am-241 source):

mcshape 203 version compatibility monodimensional transport model 1           number of energy bins 59.54 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 bin energy [keV], bin weight, Stokes pars. I, Q, U and V

It should be created within the directory SOURCES

3. GEO45_45.DAT - This file contains the geometrical set-up

mcshape 203   version compatibility monodimensional   transport model 45.0              incidence polar angle 45.0              take-off polar angle 0.0              azimuthal angle

It should be created within the directory GEOMETRY

Note on the reference system.

The incident and the take-off angle (respectively, direnction of the source and position of the detector) define the geometry of the simulation. The refence system is shown in the figure below:

 Angle of incidence: the negative X-axe is the reference axe. The angle has to be expressed in degrees (clockwise)

 Take-off angle: the positive X-axe is the reference axe. The angle has to be expressed in degrees (anticlockwise).

©Copyright 2006
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università  di Bologna
Via Zamboni, 33 - I-40126 Bologna