Accurate simulation of neutrons in less than one minute Pt. 1: Acceptance diagram shading

We describe an algorithm for modelling neutron guides based on an extension of acceptance diagram methods: neutron acceptance diagram shading (NADS), using a computer graphical approach. It has a similar black-box, modular strategy to Monte-Carlo simulations, but often outperforms Monte-Carlo by orders of magnitude in terms of calculation speed without sacrificing significant detail. NADS is expected to increase the productivity in the design stage of neutron instrument development, and facilitate the widespread application of advanced, modern artificial-intelligence-based optimisation algorithms for the design of neutron instrumentation.