Neutron Attenuation (revisited)

I0 I
Recall Σt = N σt −Σt X
I ( X ) = I 0e
Probability per mfp g λs = 1/Σs
p for scattering
unit path
length.
mfp for absorption λa = 1/Σa
………….

total mfp λt = 1/Σt

− Σt X
Probability Pno −interaction ( X ) = e
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009
(Saed Dababneh).
Pinteraction ( X ) = 1 − e −Σ t X 1
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
Recall Ft = n v σt N = I Σt
Simultaneous beams, different intensities, same energy.energy
Ft = Σt (IA + IB + IC + …)) = Σt (n
( A + nB + nC + …)v
)
In a reactor
reactor, if neutrons are moving in all directions
n = nA + nB + nC + …
Ft = Σt nv
Not talking
neutron flux φ = nv about a beam
anymore.

Reaction Rate Rt ≡ Ft = Σt φ = φ /λt ((=nvNσt)

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 same energy 2
(Saed Dababneh).
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
Diff
Different energies
i
Density of neutrons with energy between E and E+dE
n(E)dE
Reaction rate for those “monoenergetic” neutrons
ddRt = Σt((E)) n(E)dE
n( )d v(
v(E))
∞ ∞ ∞
n = ∫ n( E )dE φ = ∫ φ ( E )dE = ∫ n( E )υ ( E )dE
0 0 0

∞ ∞
Rt = ∫ ∑ t ( E ) n( E )υ ( E ) dE = ∫ ∑ t ( E )φ ( E ) dE
0 ∞ 0
Ri = ∫ ∑ i ( E )φ ( E )dE
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 3
(Saed Dababneh). 0
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
IIn general, l neutron flux
fl d depends
d on:
• Neutron energy, E.
• Neutron spatial position
position, r.
r
• Neutron angular direction, Ω.
• Time,
e, t.
Various kinds of neutron fluxes (depending on the
degree of detail needed).
Time-dependent and time-independent angular

φ (r , E , Ω, t )
neutron flux.

φ (r , E , Ω )
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 4
(Saed Dababneh).
 Neutron Flux and Reaction Rate
In Thermal Reactors,
Reactors the absorption rate in a
“medium” of thermal (Maxwellian
Maxwellian) neutrons
Ra = ∫∑
Thermal
a ( E )n( E )v( E )dE

Usually 1/v cross section, thus ∑ a ((E

E)
=
v0
∑ a ( E0 ) v( E )
then Ra = ∑ a ( E0 )v0
Th
∫ n( E )dE = ∑ Independent
Thermal
l
( E ) nv = ∑ ( E )φ
a 0 0
of n(E)
n(E)..
a 0 0

The reference energy is chosen at 0.0253 eV.

• Look for Thermal Cross Sections.
• Actually, look for evaluated nuclear data.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 5
(Saed Dababneh).
 Neutron Moderation
Show that,
Sh h afterf elastic
l i scattering
i theh ratio
i HW 6
between the final neutron energy E\ and its initial
energy E is given by:
E
=
\
A + 1 + 2 A cos θ
2 CM
=
[cos θ + A − sin θ
2 2
]
2
1H ?
E ( A + 1) 2 ( A + 1) 2
⎛E ⎞ ⎛ A −1 ⎞
\ 2

For a head-on collision: ⎜⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ ≡α

⎝ E ⎠ min ⎝ A + 1 ⎠
After n s-wave collisions: ln En\ = ln E − nζ
where the average change in lethargy u = ln( l ( EM E )
is ⎡ E ⎤ ( A − 1) 2
A −1
∆u = ζ = ⎢ln \ ⎥ = 1 + ln
⎣ E ⎦ av 2A A +1
Average decrease in ln(E) after one collision.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 6
(Saed Dababneh).
 Neutron Moderation HW 6 (continued)
• Reproduce
R d the
h plot.
l On 12C.
O C
• Discuss the effect of the
thermal motion of the
moderator atoms.

Most
probable
and average
energies?

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 7

(Saed Dababneh).
 Neutron Moderation HW 6 (continued)
Neutron scattering by light nuclei E = 12 (1 + α ) E
\

then the average energy loss ∆E = E − E \ = 1 (1 − α ) E

2
and
d th
the average ffractional
ti l energy lloss
∆E 1
= 2 (1 − α )
E
• How many collisions are needed to thermalize a 2 MeV
neutron if the moderator was:
1H 2H 4He graphite 238U ?

• What is special about 1H?

• Why
Wh we considered
id d elastic
l i scattering?
i ?
• When does inelastic scattering become important?

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 8

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
Surface effect Coulomb effect

~200 MeV

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 9

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
• B.E. per nucleon for 238U (BEU) and 119Pd (BEPd) ?
• 2x119xBEPd – 238xBEU = ?? X K.E. of the
fragments X ≈ 1011 J/g
• Burning coal X 105 J/g
• Why not spontaneous?
• Two 119Pd fragments just touching
X The Coulomb “barrier” is:
2
( 46)
V = 1.44 MeV . fm ≈ 250 MeV > 214 MeV
12.2 fm
f
• Crude …! What if 79Zn and 159Sm? Large neutron
g
excess, released neutrons, sharp potential edge,
spherical U…!
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 10
(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

• 238U (t½ = 4.5x109 y) for α-decay.

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

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 11

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

Liquid Drop
gy (MeV)
Activatiion Energ

Shell

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 12

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
4 3
πR R = ab
3 2 a = R (1 + ε )
3
= R
4
πab 2 b=
3 Volume Term (the same) 1+ ε
Surface Term Bs = - as A⅔ (1 + 25 ε 2 + ...)
Z(Z 1) / A⅓ (1 − 15 ε 2 + ...))
Co lomb Term BC = - aC Z(Z-1)
Coulomb
− 13
aC Z ( Z − 1) A > a S A 3 X fission
2
1 2
5 5
X

2
Z Crude: QM and original shape
> ~ 47 could be different from spherical.
A
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 13
(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
2
(120)
= 48
300
Consistent with activation energy
curve for A = 300.

Extrapolation to 47 X ≈ 10-20 s.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 14
(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
235U +n
Î
93Rb + 141Cs + 2n

Not unique.

Low-energy
Lo energ
fission
processes.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 15

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
Z1 + Z2 = 92
Z1 ≈ 37,
37 Z2 ≈ 55
A1 ≈ 95, A2 ≈ 140
Large neutron excess
Most stable:
Z=45 Z=58
Ð
Prompt neutrons within 10-16 s.
Number ν depends on nature of fragments and
on incident neutron energy.
The average
g number is characteristic of the
process.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 16
(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

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

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 17

(Saed Dababneh).
 Why only left
side of the
mass
parabola?

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 18

(Saed Dababneh).
 Higher
g than Sn?

Delayed neutrons
~ 1 delayed neutron
per 100 fissions, but
IIn essential
ti l ffor control
t l
general, of the reactor.
β decay
favors
high • Waste.
energy.
• Poison.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 19

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 20

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

1/v
Fastt neutrons
F t
should be
moderated.

235U thermal cross sections

σfission ≈ 584 b.
σscattering ≈ 9 b.
σradiative capture ≈ 97 b.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 Fission Barriers 21

(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission

• Q for 235U + n Î 236U is 6.54478 MeV.

• Table 13.1 in Krane: Activation energy EA for 236U ≈ 6.2 MeV
(Liquid drop + shell) X 235U can be fissioned with zero
zero-energy
energy
neutrons.

• Q for 238U + n Î 239U is 4.??? MeV.

• EA for 239U ≈ 6.6 MeV X MeV neutrons are needed.
• Pairing term: δ = ??? (Fig. 13.11 in Krane).
• What about 232Pa and 231Pa? (odd Z).
• Odd-N
Odd N nuclei have in general much larger thermal neutron
cross sections than even-N nuclei (Table 13.1 in Krane).
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 22
(Saed Dababneh).
 Nuclear Fission
Why not use it?

σf,Th 584 2.7x10-6 700 0.019 b

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 23

(Saed Dababneh).