Neutron Flux Fluctuation Correction Factor and its Application

Key words: 
• neutron flux /
• correction factor

Abstract: Incident neutron flux has to be measured accurately in the neutron reaction study especially in the neutron reaction cross-section measurement with activation method. Average neutron flux in the irradiated sample is usually determined by the monitor reaction with reference cross-section values. However, the average incident neutron flux, based on the radioactivity of the residual nuclei produced in the monitor reaction, is dependent upon the neutron flux fluctuation. In the procedure of the average neutron flux calculation, the correction factor for the neutron flux fluctuation plays a key role. In this paper, definition of the neutron flux fluctuation correction factor is inferred heoretically. The selection principles of the monitor reaction and the utilization of the correction factor have been discussed.