Possible criticality of protactinium-231
Journal Article
·
· Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6309730
Three-group diffusion theory has been applied to a computation of the /sup 231/Pa mass required to sustain a fast-neutron chain reaction. The method was tested by preliminary calculation of several /sup 235/U--/sup 238/U systems and of a single /sup 239/Pu--/sup 238/Pu system. The best agreement between predictions and measurements was found for high-enrichment /sup 235/U--/sup 238/U systems. In the case of /sup 231/Pa, where many of the necessary data do not exist, use was made of the characteristics of /sup 237/Np as a substitute. The predicted critical radius for /sup 231/Pa is 22.67 +- 1.81 cm, and the corresponding critical mass is 750 +- 180 kg.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Berkeley
- OSTI ID:
- 6309730
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 68:3; ISSN NSENA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
42 ENGINEERING
420203 -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
CONFIGURATION
CRITICAL MASS
CRITICAL SIZE
CRITICALITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MULTIPLICATION FACTORS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROTACTINIUM 231
PROTACTINIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
SIZE
SPHERES
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
42 ENGINEERING
420203 -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
CONFIGURATION
CRITICAL MASS
CRITICAL SIZE
CRITICALITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MULTIPLICATION FACTORS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROTACTINIUM 231
PROTACTINIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
SIZE
SPHERES
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES