Lamarsh J. Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory

Amer Nuclear Society. 2002. 585p.
This book is based on a one-year course in nuclear reactor theory which I have given over a number of years at Cornell and New York Universities. The major objective of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the fundamental physical principles underlying the operation of a nuclear reactor. At the same time, it is expected that by the end of the course the student will be able to perform some of the more elementary calculations necessary in reactor design.The prerequisites for this course, and hence for this book, are an undergraduate course in atomic and nuclear physics and a study of mathematics through advanced calculus. A knowledge of quantum mechanics is not assumed.The selection and processing of nuclear data, especially cross-section data, is the starting point for many reactor calculations, and it is important for the nuclear engineer to be able to interpret and use such data correctly. These data and the physical processes from which they stem are discussed in the first portion of this book. It would not be necessary to include these chapters were it not for the fact that this material is not ordinarily covered in sufficient detail in prerequisite courses in nuclear physics. Physicists understandably are no longer so concerned with these matters as they once were. Where adequate prerequisite courses exist, the first three chapters can be omitted.Most of the phenomena involving the transport of neutrons in a reactor can be understood within the framework of diffusion theory, and this model of neutron transport is used throughout much of this book. The cumbersome mathematical machinery of space-dependent transport theory is not included, because these techniques do not contribute substantially to an understanding of the basic physical principles. At the same time, a discussion of such techniques in a textbook of finite size requires the exclusion of other matters of greater importance. In certain important situations, however, where diffusion theory gives especially poor results, namely, in calculations of heterogeneous reactors, more accurate methods based on escape probabilities are introduced.The notation used in this book is that recommended by the Commission on Symbols, Units, and Nomenclature (SUN Commission) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics; the physical constants are those recommended by the Committee on Fundamental Constants of the National Academy of Sciences— National Research Council (1963); and the cross-section data have been updated to include the second supplement to the second edition of BNL-325 [1964, 1965 and 1966 (to appear)].The problems are arranged, in so far as possible, in the order of presentation of the material and not according to their difficulty. Some of the problems are patently trivial but are included because they demonstrate important physical principles. On the other hand, some problems are long and tedious and lend themselves well to machine computations. However, no problem specifically requires the use of a computer.I have been aided by many persons in the preparation of this book. I especially wish to thank J. Chernick, N. R. Corngold, S. Glasstone, H. Goldstein, С. C. Graves, H. Hurwitz, Jr., I. Kaplan, M. S. Nelkin, L. W. Nordheim, D. S. St. John, and E. P. Wigner for comments on specific questions and/or reviews of portions of the manuscript. I am also indebted to B. A. Magurno and J. R. Stehn for sending me cross-section data prior to publication in the current supplement of BNL-
325. My colleagues at New York University, R. Aronson, J. J. Herbst, R. W. Kupp, and E. Starr, have been most helpful in their comments on the evolving manuscript.I also wish to acknowledge the assistance of many present and former students, especially S. J. Fierberg, J. S. Ingley, C. R. MacVean, J. R. Roth and R. A. Shaw, whose comments and suggestions over the years have helped to shape the final product. Mr. Joel Adir performed most of the calculations and provided many of the curves used in the figures, and I am pleased to acknowledge his vital assistance. The manuscript was prepared for publication by my wife, and it is doubtful that this work would have reached completion were it not for her untiring efforts in this project.