Period-Reactivity Relations Determined Directly From Prompt-Burst Neutron Decay Data

Reactor period-reactivity relations may be determined directly by numerical integration of “prompt-burst” neutron decay data without analysis into delayed neutron period and abundance values. Period-reactivity relations obtained by this method for six fissile species are compared with the corresponding relations calculated from the customary “inhour” equation. Application of this method to mixtures of fissile materials in various neutron energy spectra is discussed.