Current Central Registry Toolbox Version(s): V2.07.1
Code Owner/Developer: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

Description: The HotSpot Health Physics Code is used for safety-analysis of Department of Energy (DOE) facilities handling nuclear material. Additionally, HotSpot provides emergency response personnel and emergency planners with a fast, field-portable set of software tools for evaluating incidents involving radioactive material. HotSpot provides a fast and usually conservative means for estimation of the radiation effects associated with atmospheric release of radioactive materials. The HotSpot atmospheric dispersion models are designed for near-surface releases, short-range (less than 10 km) dispersion, and short-term (less than 24 hours) release durations in unobstructed terrain and simple meteorological conditions.

HotSpot includes four general models of atmospheric dispersion and depositions: Plume, Explosion, Fire, and Resuspension. These models estimate the downwind radiological impact following the release of radioactive material resulting from a continuous or puff release, explosive release, fuel fire, or an area contamination event. Additional programs deal specifically with the release of plutonium, uranium, and tritium to expedite an initial assessment of accidents involving nuclear weapons.

HotSpot incorporates Federal Guidance Reports 11, 12, and 13 (FGR-11, FGR-12, FGR-13) Dose Conversion Factors (DCFs) for inhalation, submersion, and ground shine. FGR-12 DCF values are used for submersion and ground shine. In addition to the inhalation 50-year Committed Effective Dose Equivalent DCFs, acute (1, 4, 30 days) DCFs are available for estimating deterministic effects. This acute mode can be used for estimating the immediate radiological impact associated with high acute radiation doses (applicable target organs are the lung, small intestine wall, and red bone marrow).

In March 2007, DOE completed an evaluation of Hotspot V2.07.1 against DOE's safety software quality assurance criteria. The results of the evaluation were documented in a report with recommendations which were implemented by LLNL. In June 2010, DOE approved HotSpot V2.07.1 for inclusion in the Central Registry. HotSpot V 2.07.1 now includes a module that can be used to calculate the 95th percentile of the dose distribution for up to 20 radial centerline distances in each of 16 wind direction sectors (direction dependent), and all 16 sectors (direction independent) using historical meteorological data input by the user. Default percentile values are 50th, 90th, 95th, 99th, and 99.5th, and can be changed by the user.

Reports and publications related to Hotspot:

The National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) at LLNL maintains HotSpot. Specific information and LLNL documentation for Hotspot are available on the NARAC Hotspot site.

Note: Non-DOE issued reports and publications are not endorsed for technical content by DOE. These reports are provided on this web site as a courtesy to the DOE community.

Hotspot Support and Obtaining Hotspot:

To download the Hotspot software, registration is required each time the Hotspot software is downloaded. Downloading of Hotspot must follow your organization’s software acquisition and procurement processes and requirements. These processes and requirements may prohibit direct download by others than those authorized to install software on the intended computer. Additionally, your organization may require acceptance for use activities to be performed prior to the use of Hotspot.

The HotSpot Heath Physics Code V2.07.1 User's Guide is available on the HotSpot web site.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: