Abstract
Studying the behavior of neutrons in a reactor enables us to understand how fission phenomena occur and how they may be controlled in a power reactor. The science of neutrons, or neutron physics, is greatly indebted to Enrico Fermi, who contributed extensively to the mathematics in this field thanks to his initial mathematical training. The relatively slow speed of neutrons in reactors nevertheless means that no relativistic effects need to be taken into account, which greatly simplifies calculations. However, this speed is not always sufficiently rapid to allow the intrinsic speed of target atoms to be overlooked due to the temperature. In this context, the notion of reference frameworks (laboratory or center of mass) is thus capital.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The index s generally refers to data items relating to scattering.
- 2.
L. Wolfenstein and J. Ashkin , Physical Review, 85, 947 (1952).
- 3.
Care should be taken to record the energies (in the laboratory framework) before collision as E’, and after collision as E, in accordance with the procedures for writing scattering integrals.
- 4.
Sir Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett (1897–1974) was an English physicist who completed his studies at Cambridge in 1921. He was extremely familiar with the experimental sciences in the dynamic setting of the Cavendish Laboratory, and thanks to his monk-like devotion to his work, which involved taking more than 20,000 photographs in his Wilson chamber, in 1925 he managed to identify only 8 collisions demonstrating the first transmutation of nitrogen-14 to oxygen-17 as a result of the capture of an α particle. Together with Guiseppe P. S. Occhialini , on February 7, 1933, he experimentally confirmed the existence of the positron, which had been discovered in cosmic rays by Carl D. Anderson in 1932. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1948 for his work on cosmic rays, and he became President of the Royal Society in 1965.
(The Marguet collection)
- 5.
Richard Babut : Modélisation des réactions (α, n) sur les noyaux légers pour déterminer la source inhérente d’un réacteur nucléaire [Modelling (α, n) reactions on light nuclei to determine the inherent source of a nuclear reactor], PhD thesis, Université Blaise Pascal (2002).
- 6.
For an overview of ternary fission, a useful discussion is provided by N. Feather (Physics and Chemistry of Fission, 1969, p83).
- 7.
The invention of the term barn for cross sections is ascribed to M.G. Holloway and C.P. Parker while they were working late into the night of December 1942 on the atomic bomb project in Los Alamos. “If a neutron is a tomato, then U238 has a cross-section as big as a barn!”. Terms based on the names of key project leaders were thus narrowly avoided: the Oppenheimer, which was considered too long, or the Bethe, considered too… Greek!
- 8.
Care should thus be taken to avoid calculating function σ(E) with a change in the variable normally used in probability theory:
$$ \sigma (v)\; dv=\frac{\sigma_0{v}_0}{\sqrt{2E/m}} dv=\frac{\sigma_0{v}_0}{\sqrt{2E/m}}\frac{dE}{mv}=\frac{2{\sigma}_0{v}_0}{E} dE=\upsigma (E)\; dE $$since in this formula, the unit of the new functional σ(E) is barns/(m.s−1), which is inconsistent with the unit of I. The exact calculation must thus incorporate σ(E) expressed in barns.
- 9.
pcm = pour cent mille. This unit is used particularly to express the reactivity.
- 10.
Otto Hahn, Fritz Strassman: Uber den nachweis und das verhalten der bei bestrahlung des urans mittels neutronentstehenden erdalkalimetalle [On the detection and characteristics of the alkaline earth metals formed by irradiation of uranium with neutrons], Die Naturwissenschaften, No 27, p. 11–15 (9 January 1939).
- 11.
Lise Meitner, Otto Frisch : Disintegration of Uranium by Neutrons: a New Type of Nuclear Reaction, Nature, No 143, p. 239–240 (11 February 1939).
- 12.
Hans Von Halban Junior, Frédéric Joliot, Lew Kowarski: Liberation of neutrons in the nuclear explosion of uranium, Nature No 143, p. 470–471, (8 March 1939).
- 13.
R.J. Howerton, Nuclear Science and Engineering, 62, 438, 1977.
- 14.
Reactor Physics Constants, ANL-5800, second edition, 1963.
- 15.
J. Terrell , Fission Neutron Spectra and Nuclear Temperatures, Phys. Rev. 113, No 2, p. 527 (1959).
- 16.
B. E. Watt, Phys.Rev. 87, p. 1037 (1952).
- 17.
This relatively unorthodox term was used by staff managing the first French UNGG, stigmatizing the slow responses of the reactor, for example during the divergence stage.
- 18.
A.C. Wahl (1985), Phys. Rev. C32, 184. For the record, Wahl is one of the co-discoverers of plutonium, along with Seaborg .
- 19.
In particular: Musgrove et al: Prediction of Unmeasured Fission Yields, Proc. Panel Fission Product nuclear Data, Bologna IAEA-169 2,163.
Bibliography
Alain Baur, Protection contre les rayonnements : aspects physiques et méthodes de calcul [Radiation shielding: physical aspects and calculation methods], CEA/INSTN, ISBN 2-7272-0102-8, 1985, 287 pages. This is an excellent book on radiation physics and one of the most complete references for theoretical aspects [Métivier, 2006].
Karl Heinrich Bekurts, Karl Wirtz, Neutron physics, Springer Verlag, 1964, 444 pages. It is a more complete version of [Wirtz and Bekurts, 1958] in German. It is extremely clear with modern notations. There is also a significant chapter on detector calculations and on experimental methods.
D.J. Bennet, Elements of nuclear power, Longman, New-York, USA, ISBN 0-582-30504-7, 1981, 232 pages. This book although quite general proposes some novel results.
André Berthelot, Rayonnements des particules atomiques, électrons et photons [Radiation from atomic particles, electrons and photons], Masson, Paris, 1956, 191 pages.
Max Born, Structure atomique de la matière [Atomic structure of matter], Armand Colin, Paris, 1971, Max Born had a significant role in the development of quantum physics. This book although written from conference articles from 1933 is surprisingly up to date – it has been published in multiple editions.
I.R. Cameron, Nuclear Fission Reactors, Plenum Press, New-York, USA, ISBN 0-306-41073-7, 1982, 389 pages. Several chapters on technological aspects.
J.L. Delcroix, Introduction à la théorie des gaz ionisés [Introduction to the theory of inoized gases], Dunod. Paris, 1959, 170 pages. This book is a good beginning to plasma physics. First two chapters on collisions are very useful. The theory of free electron gas is preceded by a recall of the kinetic theory of gases.
La diffraction et diffusion des neutrons [Neutron diffraction and scattering], international colloque of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Grenoble September, 3–5 1963 CNRS Editions. Paris, 1964. 234 pages. This collection is dedicated to neutron crystallography and the analysis of magnetic structure. Phonon theory is also broached.
Thomas James Dolan, Fusion research Volume I, II, III, Pergamon Press. Elmsford, USA, ISBN 0-08-025566-3, 0-08-025567-1, 0-08-028817-0, 1982, 855 pages + annexes. Volume I deals with theory, II with experiments and III with technological aspects.
P.A. Egelstaff (Editor), Thermal neutron scattering, Academic Press, London, United Kingdom, Library of Congress Card Number 65-14292, 1965, 523 pages. Analysis techniques for matter, neutron optics, crystallography.
P.A. Egelstaff, M.J. Poole, Experimental neutron thermlisation, Pergamon Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, Library of Congress Card Number 79-86201, 1969, 399 pages. Descriptions of several experiments on radiation detection.
P.M. Endt, P.B. Smith, Nuclear reactions volume 2, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1962.
M. Salvy, L. Le Moigne, R. Marchal, Génie Atomique, cours fondamental, tome 1 [Nuclear engineering, fundamental lectures, part 1], INSTN/Presses Universitaires de France. Paris, Dépôt Légal n°7806, 1967 (re-edited 1963), 440 pages. The INSTN has published an important collection of textbooks under the direction of Francis Perrin in the 1960’s with sky-blue or green covers with most scientific knowledge of the time (neutron physics, materials, reactor physics, thermal conduction, reactor technology…). The second chapter Neutronics by Le Moigne is a highly summarized form in 180 pages of knowledge that led to the construction of UNGG reactors and which complements [Blaquière, 1962].
Samuel Glasstone, Alexander Sesonske, Nuclear reactor engineering tome 1 et 2, Chapman-Hall, USA, ISBN 0-412-98521-7 et 0-412-98531-4, 1994, 841 pages in two parts, 4th edition. This reference is essential for reactor physics and was successfully edited several times. Glasstone published several work on the subject.
Herbert Goldstein, Fundamental aspects of reactor shielding, Addison-Wesley, Reading, USA, 1959, 416 pages. This reference book focuses on the theoretical considerations of radiation transport calculation, rather than medical ones – a good reference for chapter 3.
J.A. Harvey (Editor), Experimental neutron resonance spectroscopy, Academic Press, New-York, USA, Library of Congress Card Number 75-84151, 1970, 534 pages. Experimental measurements of cross sections up to 10 keV.
Raymond Jancel, Théo Kahan, Electrodynamique des plasmas fondée sur la mécanique statistique, tome 1 [Plasma electrodynamics based on statistical mechanics, Part 1], Dunod, Paris, 1963, 622 pages. Very clear and complete.
Théo Kahan, Physique nucléaire et physique mésique [Nuclear physics and meson physics], Armand Colin, Paris, 1963, 222 pages. This small book may appear to be a popularizing work at first glance. It is not the case. Théo Kahan, a specialist of nuclear physics and quantum physics, has authored a very academic textbook with much information.
Rolf K.M. Landshoff (Editor), Magnetohydrodynamics, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, Library of Congress Card Number 57-11675, 1957, 115 pages. Contains the articles of the symposium of Palo Alto held on December 29 1956.
Rolf K.M. Landshoff (Editor), The plasma in a magnetic field, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, Library of Congress Card Number 58-11698, 1958, 130 pages. Contains the articles of the symposium of Palo Alto held on December 16 1957.
Peter D. Lax, Ralph S. Phillips, Scattering theory, Academic Press, London, United Kingdom, Library of Congress Card Number 66-30098, 1967, 276 pages. The mathematics behind scattering in classical theory (wave scattering).
C. Michael Lederer, Virginia S. Shirley, Table of isotopes, 7th edition, John Wiley, New-York, USA, ISBN 0-471-04179-3, 1978, 1523 pages.
John S. Lilley, Nuclear physics, John Wiley, Chichester, England, ISBN 0-471-97936-8, 2001, 393 pages. Lectures of the University of Manchester. Very complete. A chapter is devoted to fission reactors.
Jean-Paul Mathieu (coordinator), Histoire de la physique, tome 2: la physique du XXème siècle [History of physics : Part 2, the XXth century physics], Lavoisier Tec et Doc, Paris, ISBN 0-85206-697-1, 1991, 403 pages. Covers the first three chapters of this textbook. The factual approach of presenting the various events limits the book to the essential facts only.
Robert M. Mayo, Introduction to nuclear concepts for engineers, American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, Illinois, USA, ISBN 0-89448-454-0, 1998, 361 pages. This book is more than just a good introduction.
Robert V. Meghreblian, David K. Holmes, Reactor analysis, McGraw-Hill, New-York, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 59-15469, 1960, 807 pages. This work is entirely devoted to reactor physics and neutron physics and is within the framework of this textbook. No technology or operating details. One of the best references on the subject.
Maurice E. Nahmias, Libération et exploitation de l’énergie nucléaire [Liberating and operating nuclear power], Larousse, Paris, France, 1953, 302 pages. This popularizing work is very complete and presents a summary of the notes of H. Becquerel to the Académie des Sciences. Several diagrams and photos, especially for a description of Zoé.
J. Spaepen (Editor), Neutron time-of-flight methods, Proceedings of a symposium held in Saclay, 24–27 July 1961, EURATOM, Bruxelles, Belgique, 1961. 601 pages. This book presents the principles of the measurements by time-of-flight methods (technology, detector, pulsed neutron sources) and their experimental usage.
D.A Bromley, E.W. Vogt (Editors), Nuclear structure, Proceedings of the international conference on nuclear structure held in Kingston, Canada, 29 August-3 September 1960, North Holland/University of Toronto Press, Amsterdam, 1960, 990 pages. This book presents the state-of-the-art of theoretical knowledge on the structure of the atomic nucleus with the contribution of specialists such as W.B. Lewins, R.E. Peierls, A. Bohr. Although very theoretical, this book presents the problems of the time with a chapter devoted to open problems.
Shih-I Pai, Magnetogasdynamics and plasma dynamics, Springer verlag, Wien, Autriche, 1962, 197 pages. One of the first books on the subject.
Physics and chemistry of fission, Proceedings of second IAEA symposium in Vienna, 28 july-1 august 1969, IAEA Vienne 1969, 983 pages, Compilation of articles on the state of the art of this specialty in nuclear physics. The chapter on ternary fission and on the measurements of mass and charge yields is to be noted.
Ernest C. Pollard, William, L. Davidson, Applied nuclear physics, John Wiley and sons, New-York, USA, 1956, 3rd edition, 352 pages. The first part of the book is directed towards instrumentation. Theoretical aspects are not much presented.
B.T. Price, C.C. Horton, K.T. Spinney, Radiation shielding, Pergamon Press, London, United-Kingdom, 1957, 350 pages. Most of this book is dedicated to neutron radiation shielding.
D.J. Hughes, J.E. Sanders, J. Horowitz (editors), Progress in nuclear energy, Physics and Mathematics, Volume 2, Pergamon press, Library of Congress Card Number 56-3400, 1958, 375 pages. Compilation of high-level articles. Especially The measurement and theory of reactor spectra by M.J. Poole, M.S. Nelkin and R.S. Stone, and Resonance escape probability in thermal reactors by J.B. Sampson and J. Chernick.
O.R. Frisch (editor), Progress in nuclear Physics Volume 8, Butterworth-Springer, London, United Kingdom, Library of Congress Card Number 51-984, 1960a, 224 pages. Compilation of articles by British scientists. Especially The scattering of neutrons by crystals by J.M. Cassels.
O.R. Frisch (editor), Progress in nuclear Physics Volume 8, Pergamon press, London, United Kingdom, Library of Congress Card Number 51-984, 1960b, 304 pages. Compilation of articles by British scientists. Especially The interaction of polarized nucleons with nuclei by E.J. Squires.
Paul Reuss, Eléments de physique nucléaire à l’usage du neutronicien [Fundamentals of nuclear physics for the neutron physicist], INSTN, Génie Atomique, 1981 then 1987, 89 pages. This small textbook is more for teaching purposes and is written with the same goals as the first chapter of this work. It aims at providing the fundamentals for understanding neutron physics. Several comments make this a very useful reference unfortunately out of print.
Paul Reuss, Exercices de neutronique [Problem exercises in neutron physics], EDP Sciences, collection INSTN, Paris, ISBN 2-86883-706-9, 2004, 334 pages. A huge collection of exam problem with corrections and detailed comments.
Theodore Rockwell III, Reactor shielding design manual, Van Nostrand, Princeton. USA, 1956, 472 pages. Chapter 1 deals with neutron attenuation and radiations.
Boris M. Smirnov, The atomic nucleus as a relativistic system, John Wiley, New-York, USA, ISBN 0-471-17594-3, 2001, 381 pages. One of the first books to be read on plasmas. Didactic without being superfluous.
Harry Soodak (editor), The reactor handbook, volume 1: Physics, AECD-3645, U.S. Atomic energy commission, 1955, 790 pages. This book from March 1955 was the first declassified edition published by the service of technical information of USAEC as an opening to the conference Atoms for Peace in 1955, and was immediately bought by the EDF library at Messine in December 1955 through the Lavoisier library: one of the first references in nuclear at EDF. The contribution of Adler and Greuling for the reactor kinetics part is to be noted. Soodak was established as the bible for first neutron physicists in France.
Tasso Springer, Quasielastic neutron scattering for the investigation of diffusive motions in solids and liquids, Springer Verlag, ISBN 3-540-05808-7, 1972, 100 pages.
Weston M. Stacey, Fusion plasma analysis, John Wiley, New-York, USA, ISBN 0-471-08095-0, 1981, 376 pages. Stacey is a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology.
A Survey of phenomena in ionized gases, a collection of invited papers of the 8th international conference on phenomena in ionized gases, 27 august-2 September 1967, Vienna, IAEA, Vienne, STI/PUB/178, 1968, 728 pages.
Robert E. Uhrig, Random noise techniques in nuclear reactor systems, Ronald Press Company, Library of Congress card number 71-110558, 1970, 490 pages. More details than [Thie, 1981], but less theoretical than [Williams, 1974]. This book has both theoretical and experimental aspects on processing neutron noise. A wise chapter on random noise precedes the purely neutronics part. The probabilistic approach of radioactivity in the second chapter is very instructive.
Luc Valentin, Tome 1: Approche élémentaire [Part 1 : Elementary approach], Hermann, Paris, France, ISBN 2-7056-5927-7, 1982a, 312 pages. Ideal for beginning nuclear physics.
Luc Valentin, Tome 1I: Développements [Part 2, Developments], Hermann, Paris, France, ISBN 2-7056-5928-5, 1982b, 652 pages in all. Ideal for beginning nuclear physics.
L. C. Woods, Introduction to neutron distribution theory, Methuen, 1964, 130 pages.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Marguet, S. (2017). Interaction Between Neutrons and Matter. In: The Physics of Nuclear Reactors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59560-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59560-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59559-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59560-3
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)