| Lec # | Topics | Readings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction/reactor layout and classification | Henry - Section 1.8 (PDF - 2.5 MB) (Courtesy of MIT Press. Used with permission.) |
| 2 | Chart of nuclides/neutron sources | L - Chapter 2 Knoll - pp. 20 to 28 |
| 3 | Neutron reactions/Boltzman distribution/number density | Turner -Section 9.7 |
| 4 | Neutron cross-sections | |
| 5 | Binding energy/liquid drop model/fission process | Shultis - Section 3.2 L - Section 3.7 |
| Tour of MIT research reactor | ||
| 6 | Burners, converters, breeders/neutron life cycle | L - Section 4.2 |
| 7 | Neutron life cycle | |
| 8 | Criticality accidents/why is radiation dangerous | Kneif - Chapter 3 |
| 9 | Neutron flux, reaction rates, current | L - Sections 5.1 and 5.2 |
| 10 | One velocity model | L - Sections 5.3 and 5.4 |
| Exam 1 | ||
| 11 | Non-multiplying media | L - Section 5.6 |
| 12 | Multiplying media | L - Sections 6.1 to 6.3 |
| 13 | Criticality conditions | L - Section 6.4 |
| 14 | Kinematics of neutron scattering | L - Section 3.6 Henry - Section 2.5 |
| 15 | Group diffusion method | L - Section 5.8 Henry - Sections 3.1 and 3.2 |
| 16 | Solution of group equations | Henry - Section 3.3 |
| Exam 2 | ||
| 17 | Energy dependence of flux | Henry - Section 3.4 |
| 18 | Group theory/four factor formula | Henry - Section 3.5 |
| 19 | Reactors of finite size | Henry - Section 4.4 to 4.7 |
| 20 | Reactors of multiple regions: One group | Henry - Sections 4.9 and 4.10 |
| 21 | Reactors of multiple regions: Two group | Henry - Section 4.11 |
| 22 | Application of the two-group equations | L - pp. 304 to 308 |
| 23 | Few group and multi-group approaches | L - Section 6.7 Henry - Section 4.13 |
| 24 | Monte Carlo analysis | Henry - pp. 371 to 379 |
| Exam 3 | ||
| 25 | Subcritical multiplication and reactor startup | |
| 26 | Reactor operation without feedback | L - Section 7.1 to 7.2 L - Section 7.1 |
| 27 | Analytic solution of reactor kinetics | Henry - Section 7.5 |
| 28 | Dynamic period and inhour equation | Bernard, John A., and Lin Wen Hu. "Dynamic Period Equation: Derivation, Relation to Inhour Equation, and Precursor Estimation." IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science 46, no. 3 (1999): 425-437. |
| 29 | Reactor operation with feedback effects | L - Sections 7.3 and 7.4 Henry - Section 6.3 |
| 30 | Achievement of feedback effects | Hewitt - Sections 2.4.6 and 5.2.7 |
| Exam 4 | ||
| 31 | Shutdown margin/review of TMI | |
| Review |
Table of Contents
Study Materials
Readings
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Textbooks
The text book for this course is:
Lamarsh, John. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering. 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN: 9780201824988.
This covers basic reactor physics as part of a complete survey of nuclear engineering.
Readings may also be assigned from certain of the books listed below:
Henry, A. F. Nuclear Reactor Analysis. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1975. ISBN: 9780262080811.
Shultis, J., and R. Faw. Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, 2002. ISBN: 9780824708344.
Hewitt, G., and J. Collier. Introduction to Nuclear Power. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis, 2000. ISBN: 9781560324546.
Turner, J. Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection. New York, NY: Pergamon Press, 1986. ISBN: 9780080319377.
Kneif, R. Nuclear Criticality Safety: Theory and Practice. American Nuclear Society, 1985. ISBN: 9780894480287.
Knoll, G. Radiation Detection and Measurement. New York, NY: Wiley, 2000. ISBN: 9780471073383.
Readings by Lecture Topic
Note: "L" refers to the Lamarsh text.