Nuclear Reactions and Radiation

3.4 Getting ready to calculate a reaction rate but you gotta get the flux

L. R. Foulke

SUMMARY - MICROSCOPIC CROSS SECTIONS

MICROSCOPIC ()
Measure of Equivalent Nucleus "Target Size Multiplied with Atom Density (N) to Yield Macroscopic Cross Section () =N
Note: for this lecture, we will try to reserve capital N for number density of a nuclide, and lower case n for neutron density.

Microscopic Cross Section

So far we have only considered the probability that any type of reaction will occur:
This is referred to as the Total Microscopic Cross Section, t

We can also consider the probability that a specific type of reaction will occur: Microscopic Scattering Cross Section, s Microscopic Absorption Cross Section, a
Microscopic Capture (n,) Cross Section, c Microscopic Fission Cross Section, f

Cross Section Hierarchy

Micros on each level are the sum of all constituent micros on lower levels. s=e+i

t=a+s

Image Source: See Note 1

a=c+f

Macroscopic Cross Sections

Microscopic cross sections give us information about the probability of interaction on a per nucleus basis
What if we want to know the probability of an interaction in a material with a known density. In this case we need to multiply the probability of interacting with a single nucleus by the number (density) of nuclei in the material.

t = N t

Units: [nuclei/cm3] x [cm2/nucleus]

The quantity is called the macroscopic cross section, it has units of 1/cm.

Macroscopic Cross Sections

The macroscopic cross section gives the probability that a neutron will undergo a reaction per distance travelled (1/cm).
Since microscopic cross sections are energy dependent it follows that macroscopic cross sections are as well. Macroscopic cross sections for individual reaction types can be calculated from the corresponding microscopic cross sections.
a = N a

s = N s

f = N f

Calculating Number Density

Calculating macroscopic cross sections requires calculation of the number density of nuclei in a material.
This information can be calculated using Avogadro's number.
Avogadros Number NA = 6.0221023 atoms/mole Atomic mass of atom in amu = Mass [g] per mole of atoms

N = NA/A

N = Atomic number density = Material density NA = Avogadros Number A = Atomic mass

Units: [atoms/cm3] = [g/cm3] [atoms/mole] [mole/g]

SUMMARY - MACROSCOPIC CROSS SECTIONS

MACROSCOPIC ()
Product of Microscopic Cross Section and Atom Density Multiplied with Neutron Flux () to Yield a Reaction Rate (R)
R = (cm 1 ) (neutrons / cm 2 sec) = reactions / cm 3 sec

R =

Reaction Rates
Neutron radiation levels are usually measured in terms of neutron flux, denoted
Neutron flux is the rate at which neutrons pass through a spatial position, per unit time. Units: [neutrons / cm2 / sec]

The rate of neutron interactions (per unit volume) in a material is given by:

Units: [neutrons/cm2/sec][reactions/cm] R = t = [reactions/cm3/sec] The rate of individual reactions can be calculated by substituting the reaction cross section for the total cross section.

Neutrons at Neutrons at tt == 0 t

What is Neutron Flux?

Total distance traveled by all neutrons during t = Total path length generated by all neutrons during t
Image Source: See Note 2

Neutrons at Neutrons at tt == 0 t

What is Neutron Flux?

Total distance traveled by all neutrons during t = Total path length generated by all neutrons during t
Image Source: See Note 2

Neutron Fluxes

Image Source: See Note 1

Reaction Rate:

Rx ( r , t ) = x ( r , t ) ( r , t )
Reaction Rate Density (Energy Integrated)
Rate at which neutrons at position r , all
energies, undergo a reaction of type x. This reaction rate density is what must be calculated to design a reactor; it governs where the fission energy is deposited.

Neutron Attenuation

Image Source: See Note 1

14

NEUTRON BEAM ATTENUATION

NEUTRON BEAM INTERACTION

( x ) = ( x ) x d ( x ) = ( x ) dx d ( x ) = ( x ) dx x ( x ) = (0) e ( x ) x =e 0

Image Source Notes

1) Adapted with permission from the American Nuclear Society. Nuclear Engineering Theory and Technology of Commercial Nuclear Power by Ronald Allen Knief, 2nd Edition. Copyright 2008 by the American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, Illinois. Figure 2-10 (slide 4), 4-1 (slide 12), and 2-14 (slide 14). 2) Reprinted with permission from David Griesheimer, University of Pittsburgh.