Reactor neutron fluctuation simulator using pulsed neutron source

The fission phenomena in a multiplying medium are simulated by neutron bursts in a non-multiplying medium produced by a pulsed neutron source. To simulate the chain reaction, the pulsed neutron source is triggered by neutronic signals from a detector installed in that medium. The kinetic parameters can be changed at will by regulating the detector sensitivity, the system medium and the burst yield of the pulsed neutron source. This simulator has been tested on experiments with Rossi-alpha, Feynman-alpha and pulse die away methods and is also applied to the experiments with waiting time method and observation of neutron families to verify the recently developed theory in this domain. The results prove that, in principle, the number of neutrons in this simulator can represent the probabilistic nature of the neutrons in a multiplying medium described by one point model. Furthermore, the newly developed theory for reactor parameter measurement has been substantiated with use of the simulator. The simulator in its present form is restricted in applicable range to k(eff)=0 similar to 0.66 by limitations in the performance of the pulsed neutron source used.