Sensitivity Theory from a Differential Viewpoint

An alternate derivation of sensitivity junctions in terms of functional derivatives is presented to interpret sensitivity results from a differential viewpoint. No reference is made in this approach to perturbations or variations in defining sensitivity functions so that they can be seen to be “exact” differential quantities. The differential approach should allow sensitivity methods to be applied more easily to simple model problems in the areas of shielding and core physics, since these problems can be analyzed in terms of functional derivatives.