| Description |
1 online resource (xxxv, 665 pages) : illustrations |
| Contents |
1. Sources of neutrons. 1.1. Natural sources. 1.2. Artificial sources -- 2. The isotopic chart : nuclear masses and energies. 2.1. The isotopic chart. 2.2. Energy balance of reactions. 2.3. The binding energies of nuclei. 2.4. The packing fraction curve -- 3. The scattering of neutrons (part 1). 3.1. General considerations. 3.2. Elementary theoretical treatment -- 4. Resonance : models of the nucleus. 4.1. Resonance in nuclear reactions. 4.2. Two models of the nucleus -- 5. The scattering of neutrons (part 2). 5.1. The solution of Schrödinger's equation. 5.2. The scattering cross section. 5.3. Neutron-proton scattering. 5.4. The Breit-Wigner formula. 5.5. The effect of chemical binding on scattering. 5.6. Scattering cross section for other elements -- 6. Slow neutrons as waves. 6.1. Introduction. 6.2. Isotopic effects. 6.3. Penetration by thermal neutrons. 6.4. The production of very slow neutrons. 6.5. Reflection and refraction -- 7. The slowing down of neutrons. 7.1. Introduction. 7.2. The energy loss in one collision. 7.3. Many collisions. 7.4. The spatial distribution of slowed neutrons. 7.5. Theory of the spatial distribution -- 8. The age equation. 8.1. Derivation of the age equation. 8.2. The problem of a point source -- 9. Thermal neutron distributions. 9.1. The basic equation. 9.2. Point source of slow neutrons. 9.3. Point source of fast neutrons. 9.4. Bounded media. 9.5. The measurement of diffusion length. 9.6. Diffusion in graphite. 9.7. Some useful quantities and relationships -- 10. The reflection of neutrons. 10.1. Introduction. 10.2. Approximate solution of the escape problem. 10.3. Exact solution by integral equation method. 10.4. The Albedo. 10.5. Measurement of the Albedo -- 11. The stability of nuclei. 11.1. The binding energy of a nucleus. 11.2. Determination of coefficients. 11.3. The binding of neutrons to nuclei -- 12. Nuclear fission. 12.1. The possibility of fission. 12.2. Limitations on the occurrence of fission. 12.3. The liquid drop model in fission. 12.4. The particles of fission. 12.5. Cross sections for fission and other processes -- 13. The possibility of a chain reaction. 13.1. The properties of natural uranium. 13.2. Moderators. 13.3. Homogeneous and lumped graphite piles. 13.4. The possibility of a homogeneous pile -- 14. The heterogeneous pile. 14.1. The design of a lumped pile. 14.2. The determination of pile constants. 14.3. Reproduction factor and critical size -- 15. The time dependence of a pile. 15.1. The time-dependent equations. 15.2. Evaluation of the period -- 16. Practical aspects of pile physics. 16.1. The determination of k. 16.2. The study of pile materials. 16.3. Energy and radiation production. 16.4. Shielding. 16.5. Other types of piles -- 17. Fast reactors. 17.1. Elementary considerations. 17.2. The integral equation to the neutron distribution. 17.3. The critical size for a fast reactor. 17.4. Supercritical reactors -- Nuclear reactors. 1. Process for the production of radioactive substances / E. Fermi [and others]. 2. Test exponential pile / E. Fermi. 3. Method of operating a neutronic reactor / E. Fermi and L. Szilard. 4. Chain reacting system / E. Fermi and M.C. Leverett. 5. Neutronic reactor I / E. Fermi. 6. Air cooled neutronic reactor / E. Fermi and L. Szilard. 7. Testing material in a neutronic reactor / E. Fermi and H.L. Anderson. 8. Neutron velocity selector / E. Fermi. 9. Neutronic reactor II / E. Fermi and L. Szilard. 10. Neutronic reactor III / E. Fermi, W.H. Zinn and H.L. Anderson. 11. Neutronic reactor IV / E. Fermi and W.H. Zinn. 12. Method of testing thermal neutron fissionable material for purity / E. Fermi and H.L. Anderson. 13. Method of sustaining a neutronic chain reacting system / E. Fermi and M.C. Leverett. 14. Neutronic reactor shield / E. Fermi and W.H. Zinn |
| Summary |
This unique volume gives an accurate and very detailed description of the functioning and operation of basic nuclear reactors, as emerging from yet unpublished papers by Nobel Laureate Enrico Fermi. In the first part, the entire course of lectures on Neutron Physics delivered by Fermi at Los Alamos is reported, according to the version made by Anthony P French. Here, the fundamental physical phenomena are described very clearly and comprehensively, giving the appropriate physics grounds for the functioning of nuclear piles. In the second part, all the patents issued by Fermi (and coworkers) on the functioning, construction and operation of several different kinds of nuclear reactors are reported. Here, the main engineering problems are encountered and solved by employing simple and practical methods, which are described in detail. This seminal work mainly caters to students, teachers and researchers working in nuclear physics and engineering, but it is of invaluable interest to historians of physics too, since the material presented here is entirely novel |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
English |
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Print version record |
| Subject |
Neutrons.
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Nuclear reactors.
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nuclear reactors.
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SCIENCE -- Physics -- Nuclear.
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Neutrons
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Nuclear reactors
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
Esposito, Salvatore
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Pisanti, O. (Ofelia)
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| LC no. |
2010537547 |
| ISBN |
9789814291231 |
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9814291234 |
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1283144042 |
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9781283144049 |
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9786613144041 |
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6613144045 |
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