Conservation of neutrons in time-dependent slowing down

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Nuclear Science and Engineering; (USA)

OSTI ID:5199541

Corngold, N ^[1]

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1. California Institute of Technology, The Thomas J. Watson, Sr., Labs. of Applied Physics 128-95 Pasadena, CA (US)

The time-dependent slowing down of neutrons in noncapturing media depends in an important way on how the energy-dependent mean-free-time between scatterings behaves as E ,q 0. For example, if the mean-free-time decreases, i.e., v{Sigma}/sub s/ increases, as any positive power of E, the integrated density of neutrons does not remain constant in time. This anomalous behavior is discussed, noting both analogies in other physical processes and early references to the phenomenon of non-conservation. The analysis uses some unfamiliar solutions for slowing down in hydrogen, when the cross section has power-law variation; however, the general discussion is not limited to the equal mass case.

• OSTI ID: 5199541
• Journal Information: Nuclear Science and Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: Nuclear Science and Engineering; (USA) Vol. 102:1; ISSN 0029-5639; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
654003 -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Neutron Interactions with Matter
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BARYONS
CONSERVATION LAWS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN
NEUTRONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEONS
SCATTERING
TIME DEPENDENCE