Neutron Attenuation (revisited)

I0 I
Recall t = N t  t X
I ( X )  I 0e
Probability per
unit path
mfp for scattering s = 1/s
length. mfp for absorption a = 1/a
total mfp t = 1/t

 t X
Probability Pnoint eraction ( X )  e
1
Pint eraction ( X )  1  e  t X
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
Recall Ft = t I N = I t
Simultaneous beams, different intensities, same energy.
energy
Ft = t (IA + IB + IC + …) = t (nA + nB + nC + …)v
In a reactor,
reactor if neutrons are moving in all directions
n = nA + nB + nC + …

Ft = t nv

 = nv
neutron flux

Reaction Rate R  F =   =  / (=nvN )

t t t t t

2
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
Different energies
Density of neutrons with energy between E and E+dE
n(E)dE
Reaction rate for those “monoenergetic” neutrons
dRt = t(E) n(E)dE v(E)

 
n   n( E )dE    n( E ) ( E )dE
0 0

 
Rt    t ( E )n( E ) ( E )dE    t ( E ) ( E )dE
0  0

3
Ri    i ( E ) ( E )dE
0
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
In general, neutron flux depends on:
• Neutron energy, E.
• Neutron angular direction, 
• Neutron spatial position, r.
• Time, t.
Various kinds of neutron fluxes (depending on the
degree of detail needed).
Time-dependent and time-independent angular
neutron flux.
 (r , E , Ω, t )
 (r , E , Ω)
4
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
In Thermal Reactors,
Reactors the absorption rate in a “medium” of thermal (Maxwellian)
neutrons
Ra  
Thermal
a ( E )n( E )v( E )dE
Usually 1/v cross section, thus Re
fer
en
a (E) v0 ce
then 
 ( E0 ) v ( E )
The reference energy is chosen at 0.0253 eV. a
• Look for Thermal Cross Sections.
• Actually, look for evaluated nuclear data.

Ra   a ( E0 )v0  n( E )dE   a ( E0 )nv0   a ( E0 )0

Thermal
/ s f lux
2 00 m
2
5
 Neutron Moderation
Show that, after elastic scattering the ratio between the final neutron energy E\
and its initial energy E is given by:

E \

2
A  1  2 A cos CM

cos  2
A  sin  2

2
HW 6

E ( A  1) 2 ( A  1) 2
For a head-on collision:
2
After n s-wave collisions: E \
  A 1 
where the average change in lethargy   is    
 E  min  A  1 
ln En\  ln E  n
u  ln( EM E )
 E ( A  1) 2 A  1 ce
u    ln \   1  ln n
 E  av 2A A 1 fere
Re
6
 Neutron Moderation HW 6 (continued)

• Reproduce the plot.

• Discuss the effect of the
thermal motion of the
moderator atoms.

7
 Neutron Moderation HW 6 (continued)

\
Neutron scattering by light nuclei E  12 (1   ) E
then the average energy loss E  E  E \  12 (1   ) E
and the average fractional energy loss
E 1
 2 (1   )
E
• How many collisions are needed to thermalize a 2 MeV
neutron if the moderator was:
1
H 2H 4He graphite 238
U ?
• What is special about 1H?
• Why we considered elastic scattering?
• When does inelastic scattering become important?

8
Nuclear Fission

Surface effect Coulomb effect

~200 MeV

 Fi
s s io n

ion
s
Fu

9
Nuclear Fission
• B.E. per nucleon for 238U (BEU) and 119Pd (BEPd) ?
• 2x119xBEPd – 238xBEU = ??  K.E. of the
fragments   1011 J/g
• Burning coal  105 J/g
• Why not spontaneous?
• Two 119Pd fragments just touching
 The Coulomb “barrier” is:2
( 46)
V  1.44 MeV . fm  250MeV  214MeV
12.2 fm
• Crude …! What if 79Zn and 159Sm? Large neutron
excess, released neutrons, sharp potential edge,
spherical U…! 10
Nuclear Fission

• 238U (t½ = 4.5x109 y) for -decay.

• 238U (t½  1016 y) for fission.
• Heavier nuclei??
• Energy absorption from a neutron (for example) could
form an intermediate state  probably above barrier 
induced fission.
• Height of barrier above g.s. is called activation energy.

11
Nuclear Fission

Liquid Drop
Activation Energy (MeV)

Shell

12
Nuclear Fission
4 3 a  R (1   )
R 3
R  ab 2
3
= R
4
ab 2 b
3 Volume Term (the same)
1 
Surface Term Bs = - as A⅔ (1  25  2  ...)
Coulomb Term BC = - aC Z(Z-1) / A⅓ (1  15  2  ...)
 13 2
1
5
aC Z ( Z  1) A  a S A 3  fission
2
5


2
Z Crude: QM and original shape
 ~ 47 could be different from spherical.
A
13
Nuclear Fission

235
U+n

93
Rb + 141Cs + 2n
Not unique.

Low-energy
fission
processes.

14
Nuclear Fission
Z1 + Z2 = 92
Z1  37, Z2  55
A1  95, A2  140
Large neutron excess
Most stable:
Z=45 Z=58

Prompt neutrons within 10-16 s.
Number  depends on nature of fragments and on incident
particle energy.
The average number is characteristic of the process.

15
Nuclear Fission

The average
number of
neutrons is
different, but
the
distribution is
Gaussian.

16
 Higher than Sn?

Delayed neutrons

~ 1 delayed neutron
per 100 fissions, but
essential for control
of the reactor.

Fo
lo llo
ca ng- w 
se liv -d
. ed ec
iso ay
to an
pe d
(w find
a s th
te e
)i m
n
17 th ost
is
Nuclear Fission

1/v Fast neutrons

should be
moderated.

235
U thermal cross sections
fission  584 b.
scattering  9 b.
radiative capture  97 b.

Fission Barriers
18