The Elements of Nuclear Reactor Theory

Glasstone, Samuel; Edlund, Mark J.; Beck, C.; Murray, Raymond L.

doi:10.1119/1.1933473

Cited by 64 publications

(60 citation statements)

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“…We use the Fermi age theory [14] for the slowing down of the neutrons from their initial energy E 0 to their final energy E. The neutron slowing down is determined by the Fermi age equation…”

Section: Dissipating Neutron Energy In Shell Of Liquid Hydrogen mentioning

confidence: 99%

To Mars in Weeks by Thermonuclear Microbomb Propulsion

Winterberg

2014

Journal of Propulsion and Power

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To reduce the radiation hazard for manned missions to Mars and beyond, a high-specific-impulse-high-thrust system is needed, with a nuclear bomb propulsion system the preferred candidate. The propulsion with small fission bombs is excluded because the critical mass requirement leads to extravagant small fission burnup rates. This leaves open the propulsion with nonfission ignited thermonuclear microexplosions, with a compact fusion microexplosion igniter (driver) and no large radiator. It should not depend on the rare He 3 isotope and only requires a small amount of tritium. This excludes lasers for ignition. With megaamperes of gigavolt proton beams and a small amount of tritium, cylindrical deuterium targets can be ignited. The proton beams are generated by discharging the entire spacecraft as a magnetically insulated gigavolt capacitor. To avoid a large radiator, needed to remove the heat from the absorption of the fast neutrons in the spacecraft, the microexplosion is surrounded by a thick layer of liquid hydrogen, stopping the neutrons and heating the hydrogen to a temperature of ∼10 5 K, which as a fully ionized plasma can be repelled from the spacecraft by a magnetic mirror.

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Section: Dissipating Neutron Energy In Shell Of Liquid Hydrogen mentioning

confidence: 99%

To Mars in Weeks by Thermonuclear Microbomb Propulsion

Winterberg

2014

Journal of Propulsion and Power

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“…The time dependent capture gamma flux at the point detector is calculated by use of Fermi-age theory for the fast neutrons, diffusion theory for the thermal neutrons and build-up factor theory for the capture gamma quanta. (Glasstone & Edlund 1960, Olgaard 1985. This results in the following expression for the gamma flux ~g at Here a is the source-detector distance, t the time, S the number of neutrons per pulse, v the thermal neutron velocity, E. the neutron absorption cross section, z the Fermi-age to thermal energy for the fast neutrons, D the diffusion coefficient of the thermal neutrons, and /L the gamma attenuation coefficient.…”

Section: Model For the Pulsed Neutron Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new approach to the interpretation of nuclear borehole logs

Ølgaard

1992

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When interpreting nuclear borehole logs it is usually assumed for simplicity that the tool signal and a formation property, e.g. its density, are uniquely related. However, while the tool signal will usually depend primarily on one formation property, it will also be affected by other formation properties. To take this multi-parameter dependence of all the nuclear tools into account, a new approach to nuclear log interpretation has been developed. In this approach four nuclear tools are considered: the gamma density tool, the neutron porosity tool, the pulsed neutron tool and the natural gamma tool. The responses of these four tools depend on formation density (p), porosity (~), neutron absorption (Za), and geological type (including shale content). For each of the four tools a physical model has been developed. The signals measured with the four tools and the four models represent together four equations with four unknowns: p, ~b, E, and geological type. These four equations may be solved by iteration and a consistent set of formation properties obtained. The interpretation approach has been implemented on a personal computer. Examples of results of such interpretations are presented.

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“…The operation of nuclear fission reactors involves an important factor defining criticality, called the neutron multiplication factor, k [4]. There is a somewhat analogous factor which may be applied to nuclear fusion reactors and this section makes a first attempt at defining k for nuclear fusion reactors.…”

Section: The Fusion Energy Multiplication Factor Kmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has two very important physical meanings: (1) the ignition parameter (Tn e rE)i for a given fuel is inversely proportional to the fusion power density of the ignited plasma, and hence its minimum value for a given fuel corresponds to the maximum fusion power density for that fuel mix; and (2) the ratio of the experimentally achieved Tn e 7x product to that required for "bare" ignition (Tn e rE)i is defined as the "energy utilization factor f", quite analogous to the "neutron thermal utilization factor f" used in the neutron multiplication factor, k = f T? e p for nuclear fission reactors [4]. Thus, the simple ignition parameter (Tn e 7E)i is only a first-cut at evaluating the plasma energy criticality or ignition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction of neutrons at high energies

Lyubimov¹

1977

Sov. Phys. Usp.

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This paper presents some novel interpretations of fusion plasmas which may be of interest to both fission and fusion scientists and engineers. A new fusion ignition parameter (Tn e r E )i is proposed which is proportional to 0 2 B 4 and inversely proportional to the fusion power density (PFusion) °f a reacting plasma. Curves are given for many potential nuclear fusion fuels. The energy utilization factor in existing devices is defined as f = PFusion/PLoss = (Tn e TL)/(Tn e TE)i; in experimental plasmas, f has increased by about two orders of magnitude in the past decade and now exceeds 10" 4 (a "nearest" f* exceeds 10~3). The f factor is also analogous to its fission counterpart in the four-factor neutron multiplication factor k = f rj e p, where f is the neutron thermal utilization factor. Past, present, and future fusion experiments are discussed briefly in this context.

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The Elements of Nuclear Reactor Theory

Cited by 64 publications

References 0 publications

To Mars in Weeks by Thermonuclear Microbomb Propulsion

To Mars in Weeks by Thermonuclear Microbomb Propulsion

A new approach to the interpretation of nuclear borehole logs

Interaction of neutrons at high energies

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