MSc.

Nguyn Vn Qun

Neutron Interactions

HUS

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Learning Objectives
1

Understand different types of nuclear reactions (Hiu cc kiu

khc nhau ca phn ng ht nhn)

Understand cross section behavior for different reactions (Nm

c tit din phn ng i vi cc phn ng khc nhau).

Understand resonance behavior and its relation to the nuclear

energy levels (Hiu c hin tng cng hng v mi lin h
ca n vi mc nng lng ht nhn).

Know where to find nuclear data (Bit tm kim a ch cung cp

s liu ht nhn).

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Microscopic Cross section (Tit din vi m)

24 holes
24 l 1789

1 cm2
Throwing 10 arrows per min
1951
Nm 10 mi tn mt pht
Blindfold
Bt mt

Arrow
Mi tn

1 m2
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The probability that the arrows hit the target?

Xc sut mi tn trng ch l bao nhiu?

= 24 x 10/(60s*1000cm2) x 1 cm2
= 0.004
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Microscopic Cross section (Tit din vi m)

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The collision rate of neutrons is proportional to the neutron beam

intensity and the nuclei density N. The constant of proportionality is
defined as the neutron microscopic cross-section.
Tc va chm ca neutron t l thun vi cng chm neutron v
mt ht nhn N. Hng s t l c nh ngha l tit din vi m.
The microscopic cross-section characterizes the probability of a
neutron interaction.
Tit din vi m c trng cho kh nng tng tc ca neutron.
R: Reaction rate - reaction per m3 sec
N: Nuclei density - nuclei per m3

R=NI

I: Neutron intensity - neutron per m2 sec

: Microscopic cross section - m2

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Microscopic Cross section (Tit din vi m)

Scattering
s = e + in

Total
t = s + a
Absorption

a = + f

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Thick target (Bia dy)

I(x)

I0

x=0

x x + dx

Now consider the case of a thick target with an incident beam I0 for which we want
to know the unattenuated beam intensity as a function of position I(x).
The total reaction rate in dx can be defined as dR = tINdx.
Each neutron that reacts decreases the unattenuated beam intensity, thus
-dI(x) = - [I(x + dx) - I(x)] = tINdx
We can then solve this differential equation to get I(x)
dI(x)/dx = - NtI(x)
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I(x) = I0e-Ntx ---> t= Nt: Macroscopic cross section

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Macroscopic Cross section interpretation

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t Probability per unit path length that the neutron will interact
with a nucleus in the target.
t Xc sut neutron s tng tc vi mt ht nhn bia trn
mt n v di ng i.
exp(-tx) Probability that a neutron will travel a distance x
without making a collision.
exp(-tx) Xc sut neutron chy mt on x m khng va
chm.
texp(-tx)dx Probability that a neutron will make its first
collision in dx after traveling a distance x.
texp(-tx)dx Xc sut neutron s va chm ln u trong
khong dx sau khi i c mt on x.
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Mean free path of neutron (Qung ng t do trung bnh)

x xp( x)dx t xe

t x

dx 1 / t

Average distance traveled by a neutron before making a collision

Qung ng i trung bnh ca mt neutron trc khi va chm

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Two fundamental aspects of neutron cross sections

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Kinematics of two-particle collisions.

- Conservation of momentum Bo ton xung lng
- Conservation of energy Bo ton nng lng
Dynamics of nuclear reactions.
- Potential scattering Tn x th
- Compound nucleus formation Hnh thnh ht nhn hp phn

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Neutron cross section of Hydrogen

Source: D. Rezaei-Ochbelagh, Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Volume 81, Issue 4, April 2012, Pages 379382

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Potential scattering

Before

After

Hard sphere collision where the neutron bounces off the

nucleus. The interaction time is approximately 10-17s.
Va chm vi ht nhn hnh cu (cng) v neutron sau tch ra
khi ht nhn. Thi gian tng tc c 10-17s.

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Compound nucleus formation

Before

Compound nucleus

After

A
Z

A+1
Z

X*

A+1
Z

Radiative capture
Neutron penetrates the nucleus
and forms a compound nucleus

(excited state). The compound nucleus regains stability by

decaying. The interaction time is approximately 10-14s.
Neutron xuyn qua ht nhn v to thnh ht nhn hp phn
(trng thi kch thch). Ht nhn hp phn s phn r tr v
trng thi cn bng. Thi gian tng tc c 10-14s.
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Compound nucleus decay processes

1
0

A
Z

1
0

: Tn x th (potential scattering)
A
Z

- phn x sng neutron t b mt ht nhn

1
0

A+1
Z

Ht nhn hp phn

A
Z

Tn x n hi (elastic scattering)
Tn x khng n hi (inelastic scattering)
P bt (capture)
Phn hch (fission)

~ 10 14 sec

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Nuclear Shell Model

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Radiative capture
The figure is for 238U at E=6.67 eV.
E
100

10

Incident
neutron
Neutron
kinetic energy 6.67 eV
mc2 + M238c2

10

238U
92

100

(E) (b)

Cascade

239
92 U

When the sum of the kinetic energy of the neutron in the CM and its
binding energy correspond to an energy level of the compound nucleus,
the neutron cross section exhibits a spike in its probability of interaction
which are called resonances.
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Microscopic cross section of U238

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Cross section modeling (M hnh ha tit din)

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Experimental data isnt available at every energy.

Khng c s liu thc nghim cho tt c cc nng lng.
Quantum mechanical models are used to provide cross section
values around data points.
Cc m hnh c hc lng t c s dng xc nh cc
gi tr tit din quanh cc im s liu thc nghim bit.
Simplest version is Single Level Breit- Wigner.
M hnh n gin nht l m hnh n mc ca Breit - Wigner.

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Breit-Wigner Formula for Resonance Capture Cross Section

Ec

(Ec)

max 0

E0

0
Ec

1
max
2

1
1 y2

2
y Ec E0

:Total line width (FWHM)

:Radiative line width

:Total cross section at Ec = E0

E0
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Ec
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Doppler effect (Hiu ng Doppler)

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Cross section are functions of relative speed between neutron

and targer nucleus.
Tit din phn ng l mt hm ca vn tc tng i gia
neutron v ht nhn bia.
Generally assumed that target is at rest.
Thng thng ht nhn bia thng c coi nh l ng yn.
Valid for smooth cross section.
ng cho phn tuyn tnh ca tit din phn ng.
Not valid for resonances.
Khng ng cho cng hng.
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Doppler effect (Hiu ng Doppler)

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Resonances must be averaged over atom velocity assumed

target nuclei have Maxwell Boltzmann energy distribution.
Cng hng phi ly gi tr trung bnh theo vn tc ca nguyn
t. Gi thit cc ht nhn bia c nng lng theo phn b
Maxwell Boltzmann.
As atom temperature increase: Resonance become wider and
shorter.
Khi nhit nguyn t tng ln nh cng hng s m rng
v gim cao.
Area stays approximately the same.
Din tch nh th gn nh khng thay i.
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Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution (Phn b Maxwell Boltzmann)

Source: http://www.informationphilosopher.com
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Doppler effect (Hiu ng Doppler)

(E )
T1< T2<T3

T1

T2
T3
E

E0

(E) v V
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