Two new Monte Carlo methods for point flux estimation (Q1961784)

The intention of this article is to proceed in the area of the Monte Carlo methods for point flux estimation. The authors present two new methods, both based on non-analog sampling schemes. The first method is closely related to the once more collided flux estimation introducing a non-analog sampling scheme for the simulation of a particle. The second method is more complicated and combines an analog and a non-analog sampling scheme. As a result, a simulated particle preferably moves to the point, and this is considered as an important feature of a useful method. Both methods generally yield partial scores for which an order-dependent upper bound can be given for physically relevant cases. Furthermore, one of the authors' methods (detector emphasis technique) yields bounded partial scores for a special case. Together with a technical condition this is sufficient for all moments to exist, and therefore it is possible to think that this case is treated satisfactorily by this method. Finally, a simple model is investigated, comparing these new methods with established ones. Both methods clearly yield higher performances and more reliable error estimations, but further technical means (weight windows) are necessary to compensate for the drawbacks of non-analog sampling.