G-1-1

Measurement of Neutron Age

and Slowing Down Length in
Graphite
by W. A. Jester, F. J. Remick, J. S. Breni zer and B.J. Heidrich
References
1. Glasstone, S. and M. C. Edlund, "The Elements of Nuclear Reactor Theory," D. Van
Nostrand, (1952).
2. Lamarsh, J. R., "Introduction to Nuclear Engineering," Addison-Wesley Publ. Co.
2nd ed. (1983)
3. Duderstadt, J. J., L. J. Hamilton, "Nuclear Reactor Analysis," John Wiley and Sons,
(1976).
4. Erdtmann. G., Neutron Activation Tables, Kernchemie in Einzeldarstellungen,
Vol.6, Weinheim, New York (1976)
Introduction
The Fermi Age () is a historically important concept developed by Enrico Fermi in his
determination of critical size for natural uranium-fueled graphite moderated reactors. In
this theory, it is assumed that the neutrons are continuously slowing down, and with this
assumption the average age and slowing down length can be determined by means of
experimental measurements taken in a large block of graphite. The Fermi Age, or, as it
is sometimes called, the neutron age, is important since it appears explicitly in the fast
non-leakage probability term used in calculating the multiplication factor for a finite size
reactor. It is also used in the calculation of the Slowing-Down Length of a moderator.
Object
In this experiment, you will be utilizing the fact that the slowing down and attenuation of
fast neutrons as a function of distance from a point neutron source in graphite can be
G-1-2


measured using cadmium covered BF
3
detectors. The measured count rates are
implicitly related to the Fermi Age and Slowing-Down Length of the slowing down
neutrons.
Theory
In the various reactor models that are investigated during a course in reactor analysis,
one usually studies time dependence, energy dependence, and space dependence
separately in order that these various effects can be more readily observed. However,
to determine the leakage of neutrons as they slow down in energy space, it is necessary
to consider both spatial and energy dependence concurrently.
1
For this analysis, it is
usually assumed that the neutrons that are slowing down by elastic scattering in the
moderating medium are slowing down continuously and not in discrete steps as is the
actual case. This is often referred to as the continuous slowing down model. This
assumption is quite good for heavier moderating material such as carbon, where there
is only weak or no absorption of neutrons. The concept does not hold for hydrogenous
moderators.
Recall from your reactor analysis course
2,3
that the steady state form of the
age-diffusion equation is:

(1)

where in this equation r represents a neutron's spatial location while u represents a
neutron's energy in terms of lethargy space. For more information on lethargy see
reference 3, page 322. For such neutrons, the terms in Equation (1) represent the
following:
()

( ) = Leakage term
-
a
(u)(r,u)
= Absorption term
D(u)V
2
|(r,u) - E
a
(u)|(r,u) -
cq(r,u)
cu
+ S(r,u) = 0
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-
q(r,u)
u

= Slowing down
term
S(r,u) = Source term
From continuous slowing down considerations, you should recall that for no absorption
the slowing down density is:
(2)
and for a weakly absorbing medium, such as graphite, it is:
(3)
where
s
is the macroscopic scattering cross/section,
t
is the total macroscopic
cross/section and is the average change in the logarithm of the neutron energy per
collision. Substituting Equation (3) into Equation (1) and neglecting the source term, we
obtain:

(4)

NOTE: is not a function of r. (material properties only)
From slowing down considerations,
1, 2
it can be shown that:

q(r,u) = Q(r,u) exp -
E
a
(u')
E
t
(u')
u
o
u
du'

(5)

where:
q(r,u) E
s
(u)|(r,u)
q(r,u) E
t
(u)|(r,u)
D(u)
E
t
(u)
V
2
q(r,u) -
E
a
(u)q(r,u)
E
t
(u)
-
cq(r,u)
cu
= 0
E
t
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Q(r,u) = the density of neutrons introduced from the source into lethargy space at
lethargy u
o
.
1

Substituting this expression into Equation (4) introduces an integrating factor, which
eliminates the absorption term. The equation now becomes:

(6)

The age solution to this Equation (requires the following definition of age ():
1,3


t
(u) =
D(u')
E
t
(u')
u
o
u
du'
(7)
and

(8)

Using this relationship, Equation (6) becomes:

V
2
q(r,u) -
cq
ct
(r,u) = 0

(9)

This is called the Fermi Age Equation.
By making the transform from u to and by making appropriate substitution, we obtain
the more usual form of the Age Equation:

V
2
q(r,
t
) =
cq(r, t
)
c t

(10)

D(u)
E
t
(u)
V
2
q r,u -
cq
cu
r,u = 0

dt
du
=
D(u)
E
t
(u)
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Now consider a point neutron source in an infinite moderating medium. In spherical
geometry with azimuthal symmetry, Equation (10) becomes:

V
2
q(r,
t
) =
c
2
q(r,
t
)
c
r
2
+
2
r

q(r,
t
)
cr

(11)

Thus:

c
2
q(r,
t
)
c
r
2
+
2
r

cq(r, t
)
cr
-
cq(r, t
)
c t
= 0

(12)

The solution to this equation,
1
which can be verified by substitution, is:

q (r
,t ) = S
e
- r

2
/
4 t

4
tt
3/2

(13)

where "S" is a proportionality constant that is dependent on source strength. It can be
demonstrated from this Equation that:
(14)
That is the age is equal to 1/6, the mean square (crow-flight) distance from the point
where a neutron enters a system with its initial energy to the point at which it slows
down to age .

In two-group reactor theory, one sometimes uses the concept of slowing down length
(L
F
). The relationship of age to this length is:
(15)
Age does not have units of time but units of length squared. It is equal to the slowing
down time or chronological age of a neutron multiplied by the average diffusion
coefficient for the neutrons over that time. It is therefore zero when the neutron leaves
the source and increases as the slowing down time increases, reaching its maximum
value at the time when the neutron reaches thermal energy.
t =
1
6

<
r
2
>
L
F
t
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It should be apparent from Equation (13) that if one had a detector that would detect the
slowing down density of neutrons of some particular energy, then by measuring this
slowing down density, as a function of distances r away from the point source, the age
to that energy could be determined. That is, a plot of ln[q(r,)] versus r
2
should have a
slope of - 1/4 .
A good detector that approximates this desired condition for neutrons approaching
thermal energy is cadmium-covered boron-10. What you will be measuring is the age-
to-indium resonance (
in
) and not age-to-thermal (
th
)- and a correction factor for the
system must be determined as follows:

t
th
= t
in
+
D(u)
E (u)
du
u E = 1.44 eV
u E
th

(16)

The age of a graphite system is not particularly sensitive to temperature, but will depend
on the graphite density, varying inversely as the square of the density.
The age will also vary with the initial energy of the neutrons. In this experiment, we will
use a
239
Pu-Be source producing neutrons having a maximum energy of about 11 MeV
and an average energy of about 4 MeV. For fission neutrons the maximum neutron
energy is about 20 MeV but the average energy is 2 MeV. Thus, using the
239
Pu Be
source, we would expect to obtain a somewhat larger value for the age than we would
obtain using fission neutrons as the source.


G-1-7


Experimental Setup
A graphite sigma pile will serve as an infinite medium for the slowing down of high-
energy neutrons from the source. The average density of the graphite pile is 1.68 g/cc.
When you compare your results with that obtained using other graphite piles, you must
also take into consideration any density differences. See Figure 1 for the pile
dimensions.


Figure 1: Graphite Pile Coordinate System
Two Pu:Be fast neutron sources each having an approximate strength of 1.4 x 10
6

neutrons/sec will have been placed in special graphite stringers and the stringers are
positioned so that the sources will be in the approximate middle of the pile.

y
x
z
c = 133 cm
a = 178 cm
b = 161.5 cm
c = 133 cm
Pu:Be
Neutron
Sources
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EQUIPMENT

A block diagram for the foil counting system used in this experiment is given as Figure 2
and the equipment list is given in Table 1. The detector is a BF
3
proportional counting
system that measures neutron interaction in boron-10 gas.

O O
AMP SCA
I
High
Voltage

Oscilloscope
O
I
I = input
O = output
Pre-
Amp
I
O
Gas Flow
Prop.
Counter

Preamp
Power
Counter/
Timer
I

Figure 2: Block Diagram for Counting System

Table 1: Equipment List for Experiment
Bias (HV) power supply Single-Channel Analyzer
Oscilloscope Counter/Timer
BF3 Detector Microsoft Excel
Preamplifier Calibration Source(s)
Amplifier

ANALYSIS USING BF3 MEASUREMENTS
The calculations associated with BF3 neutron flux measurements relatively simple. The
net count rate is directly proportional to the neutron flux being measured, i.e.
BF
3

Detector
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= C*(G - BG) (1)
(2)
Where:
= thermal neutron flux (neutrons per second per cm2)
G = BF3 gross counts (in five minutes)
BG = BF3 background counts (in five minutes)
C = Conversion factor (neutrons per second per cm2 /counts per min.)
The output from the BF3 counter will vary considerably with such factors as detector
design, high voltage setting, amplifier gain setting, and lower-level discriminator setting.
From past foil measurements, the neutron flux in the center of the pile at the 74 cm
position is about . We will use this value to approximately
calibrate the measurements taken using the BF3 counters divide your net number of
counts per minute obtained at the 74 cm position into the
value to obtain a detector efficiency factor in units of per cpm.
You will then use this factor to convert all of your net cpm values to a thermal flux.
B. SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
In preparing your lab report you are expected to use correct rounding off procedures.
Your Microsoft Excel printouts will not follow this requirement. In Microsoft Excel, the
number of significant digits recorded as data are controlled by the user. If the significant
figure format is, for some reason not correct, you should change it to the appropriate
number of significant figures.
This number format should only be applied to calculated values and not input values
such as distance. Adhere to these format procedures throughout your section a lab
experiments to maintain a better degree of accuracy in your calculations and results.
o = |
(G + BG)
(G - BG)
5 10
3
neutrons/ second, cm
2
5 10
3
neutrons/ second, cm
2
neutrons/ second, cm
2
G-1-10


Neutron Age Lab setup Procedures
Using A BF3 Counter
Turn on all the electronics to begin warming them up, then, continue with the directions
as follows:
1. Check the detector system as follows:
a. As directed by your instructor, insert your BF3 detector into Position X-5,
completely into the center of the pile.
b. Connect your scope to the output of the amplifier.
c. Set the high voltage to +1500 volts.
d. Adjust the amplifier gain so that the maximum pulse size is about +10
volts.
Note: See the Appendix for the detector characteristics.
e. Connect the scope to the output of the single channel analyzer (SCA),
which should be operating in the integral mode. You should observe the
typical square wave pulse produced by this module.
f. Reduce the high voltage to +500. If you still see square wave pulses on
your scope then you are counting amplifier noise. Raise the SCA lower
level discriminator setting until these noise pulses disappear (~0.3v).
g. Quickly obtain a detector plateau curve by taking measurements while
varying the high voltage between 1000 and 1500 volts. Stop taking
measurements as soon as you reach a voltage where the count rate
significantly departs from the plateau. Record your plateau data in your
Lab Notebook. Choose the plateau midpoint as the correct operating
voltage for the rest of this experiment.
h. On the Counter/Timer press the Count Button.
i. If you do not see pulses being counted, consult your instructor or TA.
j. If everything checks out, press the Stop button on the Counter/Timer
followed by the Reset button.
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k. Remove the BF3 detector from the pile and carefully place it on the floor.
You should only see occasional background pulses. If you are still seeing
amplifier noise pulses, increase the Lower Lever Discriminator setting to
eliminate them.
2. If everything checks out take a 5-minute background count.
3. Reinsert BF3 stringer into the X-5 slot in pile and reset the Timer/Counter.
4. Position the centerline of the detector at the center of the pile and record a 5-
minute count. Remember to press stop, reset, and then count to start counting
followed by on the Timer/Counter.
5. Repeat for positions X6, X13 and X14. Use the distance from the source (cm) as
your X values.
6. Shut down the counting system; remove the BF
3
tube from the pile.
Data:

Counting
Location
Distance from
Source [cm]
Counting
Time [min]
Total Counts Count Rate
[cpm]
Background Far away
X-5 9
X-6 22
X-13 29
X-14 40

Data Reduction
1. Plot the count rate vs. the distance squared in Excel.
2. Perform an exponential curve-fit to the data.
3. Use the curve-fit equation to get the slope of the line.

G-1-12


Results and Discussion
1. From your curve fit equation, obtain the slope and compute the neutron age and
slowing down length of the graphite pile.
2. Compare the age and slowing down length values you have obtained in this
experiment with the published values of age in graphite given in at least two
references. Would you expect it to differ? Why or Why not?
3. What is the mean square (crow flight) distance for neutrons in this media based on
the age you determined in this experiment? In your own words define this term.
4. What effects would you expect to see in your age curve if you took measurements:
(a) in close to the source,
(b) far from the source, and
(c) both far from the source and close to the physical boundary of the pile?
Explain the causes of each of these effects.
5. From your value for the slowing down length and the dimensions of the pile
determine whether or not the sigma pile appears infinite in extent to the slowing
down neutrons. Explain your conclusion.

G-1-13


Appendix 1
Characteristics of BF
3
Detector

The specifications of the BF3 detectors employed in this experiment are:
Manufacturer : N. Wood Counter Laboratory
Model M-1
Diameter 1"
Active Length 15"
Operating Voltage 1100 to 1600 volts
BF3 Pressure 20 to 60 cm of Hg.