桃色视频

Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Department of Statistics

Esmae Woods

Esmae Woods
Post Doctoral Researcher 路 University of Cambridge
Focus - Markov Chains 2024 鈥� Present
Contact

Computational mathematician working on Monte Carlo methods for neutron transport, contributing to the development of SCONE 鈥� the Stochastic Calculator Of the Neutron transport Equation built at Cambridge. My work analyses how criticality simulations converge: Fourier analysis of fission-matrix acceleration, zeta-eigenvalue methods for faster criticality searches, and models of particle clustering in heterogeneous systems. PhD on state-reduction techniques for Markov chains in large ill-conditioned systems.

Body of work

4 items
Year
Publication 2025 路 Dec

Nuclear Science and Engineering 路 with Zi Liang Tan & Paul Cosgrove
Uses Fourier analysis to show analytically how the fission matrix accelerates convergence of Monte Carlo simulations 鈥� furthering understanding of when fission-matrix acceleration should be used. Follow-on projects exploring further effects of fission-matrix acceleration have branched from this work.
Linked 路 DOI Fission matrix Convergence analysis
Algorithm 2026 路 in progress

Zeta-eigenvalue convergence for faster criticality searches

SCONE development 路 with Valeria Raffuzzi
Analysis of zeta-eigenvalue Monte Carlo simulations converging to a critical density 鈥� a new algorithm that could substantially reduce the computation time of density-criticality searches. Internal analytics and code exist; open-access convergence results on benchmark systems are the next milestone.
  • 鈥� Conference paper 鈥淐onvergence of Monte Carlo Zeta Eigenvalue Simulations鈥� (with V. Raffuzzi) submitted to PHYSOR 2026.
  • 鈥� Invited ANSWERS seminar 鈥淪hort-cutting criticality searches with the zeta-eigenvalue equations鈥� (May 2025), following a first presentation at ANSWERS 2024.
Asserted Criticality Zeta eigenvalue In progress
Model 2026 路 in progress

Modelling clustering in heterogeneous systems

Correlation & path decomposition in spatial branching
A mathematical model predicting how many particles a Monte Carlo simulation needs before clustering artefacts disappear in a simple heterogeneous system 鈥� helping users choose particle counts with confidence. Preliminary mathematics and code exist; a journal paper validating the maths against simulations is planned.
Asserted Clustering Spatial branching In progress
Integration pathway 2024 鈫� present

Shorter density-criticality searches for industry codes

Nuclear industry 路 ANSWERS community
Industry users need shorter density-criticality searches. The zeta-eigenvalue algorithm converges to a critical density with fewer criticality searches, and industry awareness is being built through the ANSWERS seminar series while remaining convergence challenges are resolved.
Impact trajectory
Algorithm built
Industry aware
Validated
Integration
  • 鈥� Presented at ANSWERS seminars in 2024 and May 2025 鈥� the industry channel for UK criticality codes.
Asserted Integration Criticality

Output over time

2024 鈥� 2026
2024
2025
2026
Research
Joined MaThRad 路 SCONE thread
ANSWERS invited seminar (May)
Fission-matrix paper published in NSE (Dec)
PHYSOR 2026 paper 路 submitted
Zeta-eigenvalue algorithm 路 target Apr
Clustering model paper 路 target Apr
Collab
Impact
ANSWERS 2024 路 industry awareness

Let us know you agree to cookies

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Please let us know if you agree to functional, advertising and performance cookies. You can update your cookie preferences at any time.

Cookie policy