Evaluation of Two-Region-Reactor Parameters by Random Noise Measurements

An experimental method of measuring parameters peculiar to a two-region nuclear reactor is developed requiring the measurement of the cross-power spectrum between the outputs of the two reactor regions when a random reactivity input is given to one of the regions. Using bandpass filters and an analog computer, the cross-power spectrum between the outputs of the two regions in the University of Florida Training Reactor has been measured. These data indicate that the propagation of a disturbance from one region of the reactor to the other region may adequately be described in terms of neutron-wave phenomena and that the method may be used to determine the multiplication factor of each region.