Introduction to NUCLEAR REACTOR THEORY John R. Lamarsh NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ADDISON-WESLEY PUBLISHING COMPANYContents Chapter 1 Review of Nuclear Physics 1-1 The Constituents of Nuclei. 2. 1 eee ee ee 1-2 Particle Wavelengths . 2. 2... 2 ee we OD 1-3 NuclearRadi - - . 2 ee ee 1-4 NuclearMass . . 1 1 ee ee ee ee 8 1-5 BindingEnergy. . 2 2 2. 2. ee ee ee 8 1-6 Excited Statesin Nuclei. . 2 2... ee eS 1-7 Radioactivity. Sou bb oo de os oY 1-8 The Decay of Excited States | 1). 8 1-9 NuclearReactioss . . 2... ee ee ee Chapter 2 Interaction of Neutrons with Matter 2-1 Cross Sections . Bee iy 2-2 Neutron Interactions and Macroscopic Cross Sections. | | | 20 2-3. Cross Sections of Mixtures and Molecules . . . 2... 22 2-4 Angular Distributions and Differential Cross Sections . | | 22 2-5 Center-of-Mass Coordinates . . . . . 1. - se. 24 2-6 Mechanisms of Neutron Interactions. . . . . . . . . 31 2-7 TheTotalCrossSection . . 2... . 1-2 1. 4 2-8 Elastic Scattering . ©. 2... ee ee ee 2 2-9 Transport CrossSection - ©... - 7) 1 ee SM DAG # = Nonelastic Cross Sectlou| ss eter eee ree S7, 2M Inelastic Scattering... 6 ee ee 2-12 Absorption Reactions . 6... ee ee ee ee OL 2-13 Neutron Producing Reactions. . . 2 1... 1 1. 66 2-14 The Doppler Effect... 2. ee ee 2415 On Cross-Section Compilations |. 2. 2 1... 4 Chapter 3 Nuclear Fission 341 The Mechanics of Fission... 2 1 ee ee ee 82 3-2 Practical Fission Fuels. . 2...) . 1 ee ss 86 3-3. Cross Sections of Fissionable Nuclei. ©... . . . . 89 3-4 The Products of Fission . . . . - . . + + es. 92 3-5 Energy Release from Fission. . . . ree C) 3-6 Reactor Power, Fuel Burnup, and Fuel Consumption | | |. 105 viiChapter 4 Neutron Chain-Reacting Systems 4-1 Multiplication Factor. foe ee 109 4-2 Neutron Balance and Conditions for Criticality§ < . 1. . 109 43 Conversion and Breeding . . . . . . + + ss + 110 4-4 Types of Nuclear Reactors... ee is) 4-5 General Considerations of Reactor Design | |. 5. (116 Chapter 5 The Diffusion of Neutrons 5-1 Interaction Rates and Neutron Flux... . . - + + + 18 5-2 Neutron Current Density. . . . . se + ee + + 122 5-3 The Equation of Continuity . . 2 2 2 1 1 + eee 123 54 Fick’sLaw . . . ee e 5-5 Physical Interpretation of Fick’sLaw 9... 5. 1s. 128 5-6 Validity of Fick’sLaw. . 6. 2 2 ee ee ee + 129 5-7 The Diffusion Equation... 6 60 ooo fee 5-8 Boundary Conditions for the Steady-State Diffusion Equation 133 5-9 Elementary Solutions of the Steady-State Diffusion Equation. . 137 5-10 General Diffusion Problems . . . - . + s+ s+ + 144 S11 The Diffusion Length . 2 2. 6 ee ee ee ee 188 5-12 The Reciprocity Theorem. . . . - + + s+ + es 155 Chapter 6 Neutron Moderation without Absorption 61 Energy Loss in Elastic Collisions. . . . . . - «+. 167 62 Collision and Slowing-Down Densities . . . . - . - . 171 63 Moderation of Neutrons in Hydrogen... . - . ~~ 171 64 Lethargyandg ee ee ee ee ee IH 6-5 Moderation of Neutrons for A> 1... 1. 2. os 116 6-6 Nonmonoenergetic Sources. . - - +. + + + + + ~ 182 67 Slowing Down in Mixtures of Nuclides | 2). 2). 1 183 6-8 Multiscattered Neutrons... 66006 5 6-9 Space-Dependent Slowing Down—Fermi Age Theory. |. . 187 6-10 Boundary Conditions for the Age Equation. . . . . . . 190 6-11 Solutions to the Age Equation . . . . - . + «~~ 192 6-12 Physical Significance of Fermi Age. . soe ee 196 613 Validity of Age Theory—Slowing Down in Hydrogen | | | | 199 6-14 Measurement of Neutron Age. oe 20 6-15 Inelastic Scattering in the Slowing Down of Neutrons. |. . 204 6-16 Methods of Calculating Age... - ee + ee + 207 viii