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Interactions of Neutrons with Matter

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Interactions of Neutrons with Matter

Types of neutron-nuclear reactions
Neutron cross-section
Law 1/v
Resonance neutron capture
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Doppler broadening
Typical cross-sections of materials in the reactor

Interactions of Neutrons with Matter

See our Periodic Table of Elements
Neutrons are neutral particles, therefore they travel in straight lines, deviating from their path
only when they actually collide with a nucleus to be scattered into a new direction or absorbed.
Neither the electrons surrounding (atomic electron cloud) a nucleus nor the electric field caused
by a positively charged nucleus affect a neutron’s flight. In short, neutrons collide with nuclei,
not with atoms. A very descriptive feature of the transmission of neutrons through bulk matter is
the mean free path length (λ – lambda), which is the mean distance a neutron travels between
interactions. It can be calculated from following equation:

λ=1/Σ

Neutrons may interact with nuclei in one of following ways:

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Interactions of Neutrons with Matter 22/09/2019 3:05 pm

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Try 30 days free. SIGN UP Types of neutron-nuclear reactions

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SMART deployment The extent to which neutrons interact with nuclei is
described in terms of quantities known as cross-
sections. Cross-sections are used to express the
likelihood of particular interaction between an
incident neutron and a target nucleus. It must be
noted this likelihood do not depend on real target
dimensions. In conjunction with the neutron flux, it
enables the calculation of the reaction rate, for
example to derive the thermal power of a nuclear
power plant. The standard unit for measuring the
Typical cross-sections of fission material. Slowing
microscopic cross-section (σ-sigma) is the barn, down neutrons results in increase of probability of
which is equal to 10-28 m2. This unit is very small, interaction (e.g. fission reaction).

therefore barns (abbreviated as “b”) are commonly

used. The microscopic cross-section can be interpreted as the effective ‘target area’ that a
nucleus interacts with an incident neutron.

A macroscopic cross-section is derived from microscopic and the material density:

Σ=σ.N

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Interactions of Neutrons with Matter 22/09/2019 3:05 pm

Here σ, which has units of m2, is referred to as the microscopic cross-section. Since the units of
N (nuclei density) are nuclei/m3, the macroscopic cross-section Σ have units of m-1, thus in
fact is an incorrect name, because it is not a correct unit of cross-sections.

Neutron cross-sections constitute a key parameters of nuclear fuel. Neutron cross-sections

must be calculated for fresh fuel assemblies usually in two-Dimensional models of the fuel
lattice.

Try 30 days free. The neutron cross-section is variable and depends on:

Target nucleus (hydrogen, boron, uranium, etc.) Each isotop has its own set of cross-
SIGN UP sections.
Type of the reaction (capture, fission, etc.). Cross-sections are different for each nuclear
reaction.
Neutron energy (thermal neutron, resonance neutron, fast neutron). For a given target
and reaction type, the cross-section is strongly dependent on the neutron energy. In the
common case, the cross section is usually much larger at low energies than at high
energies. This is why most nuclear reactors use a neutron moderator to reduce the energy
of the neutron and thus increase the probability of fission, essential to produce energy
and sustain the chain reaction.
Target energy (temperature of target material – Doppler broadening) This dependency is
not so significant, but the target energy strongly influences inherent safety of nuclear
reactors due to a Doppler broadening of resonances.

See also: JANIS (Java-based nuclear information software)

See also: Neutron cross-section

Law 1/v
For thermal neutrons (in 1/v region), absorption
cross-sections increases as the velocity (kinetic
energy) of the neutron decreases. Therefore the 1/v
Law can be used to determine shift in absorbtion
cross-section, if the neutron is in equilibrium with a
surrounding medium. This phenomenon is due to
the fact the nuclear force between the target
nucleus and the neutron has a longer time to
interact.

For thermal neutrons (in 1/v region), absorption cross

This law is aplicable only
sections increases as the velocity (kinetic energy) of
for absorbtion cross- the neutron decreases.
section and only in the 1/v region. Source: JANIS 4.0

Example of cross- sections in 1/v region:

The absorbtion cross-section for 238U at 20°C = 293K (~0.0253 eV) is:

The absorbtion cross-section for 238U at 1000°C = 1273K is equal to:

This cross-section reduction is caused only due to the shift of temperature of surrounding
medium.

Resonance neutron capture

Absorption cross section is often highly dependent on neutron energy. Note that the nuclear
fission produces neutrons with a mean energy of 2 MeV (200 TJ/kg, i.e. 20,000 km/s). The
neutron can be roughly divided into three energy ranges:

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Interactions of Neutrons with Matter 22/09/2019 3:05 pm

Fast neutron. (10MeV – 1keV)

Resonance neutron (1keV – 1eV)
Thermal neutron. (1eV – 0.025eV)

The resonance neutrons are called resonance for

their special bahavior. At resonance energies the
cross-section can reach peaks more than 100x
higher as the base value of cross-section. At this
energies the neutron capture significantly exceeds
a probability of fission. Therefore it is very Resonance peaks for radiative capture of U238. At
important (for thermal reactors) to quickly resonance energies the probability of capture can be
more than 100x higher as the base value.
overcome this range of energy and operate the
Source: JANIS program
reactor with thermal neutrons resulting in increase
of probability of fission.

Doppler broadening

A Doppler broadening of resonances is very

important phanomenon, which improves reactor
stability. The prompt temperature coefficient of
most thermal reactors is negative, owing to an
nuclear Doppler effect. Although the absorbtion
cross-section depends significantly on incident
neutron energy, the shape of the cross-section
curve depends also on target temperature. Doppler effect improves reactor stability. Broadened
resonance (heating of a fuel) results in a higher
probability of absorbtion, thus causes negative
Nuclei are located in atoms which are themselves reactivity insertion (reduction of reactor power).
in continual motion owing to their thermal energy.
As a result of these thermal motions neutrons
impinging on a target appears to the nuclei in the target to have a continuous spread in energy.
This, in turn, has an effect on the observed shape of resonance. The resonance becomes
shorter and wider than when the nuclei are at rest.

Although the shape of a resonance changes with temperature, the total area under the
resonance remains essentially constant. But this does not imply constant neutron absorbtion.
Despite the constant area under resonance, a resonance integral, which determines the
absorbtion, increases with increasing target temperature. This, of course, decreases coefficient
k (negative reactivity is inserted).

Typical cross-sections of materials in the reactor

Following table shows neutron cross-sections of the most common isotopes of reactor core.

Table of cross-sections

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See previous: See above: See next:

Neutron Energy ! Neutron ! Free Neutron !

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