Chapter11-+Neutron+Chain+Reactions`.ppt

Chapter 11 Neutron Chain Reactions(中子链式反应) The possibility of a chain reaction involving neutrons in a mass of nuclear fuel such as uranium depends on: (a) nuclear properties (特性) such as cross sections (截面) and neutrons per absorption; (b) the size, shape, and arrangement of the materials. 11.1 CRITICALITY AND MULTIPLI-CATION (临界性和增殖性) To achieve a self-sustaining chain reaction (自持链式反应), one needing no external neutron supply, a critical mass(临界质量) of uranium must be collected. To appreciate this requirement we visualize the simplest nuclear reactor, consisting of a metal sphere of uranium-235. 接上页(P108 末行) Suppose that it consists of only one atom of U-235. If it absorbs a neutron and fissions, the resultant neutrons do nothing further, there being no more fuel. If instead we have a small chunk (大块) of uranium, say a few grams, the introduction of a neutron might set off (导致) a chain of several reactions, producing more neutrons, but most of them would escape through the surface of the body, a process called leakage (泄漏). 接上页（P109第五行中） Such an amount of fuel is said to be “subcritical ”(次临界的). Now if we bring together about 50 kg of U-235 metal, the neutron production balances the leakage losses, and the system is self-sustaining or “critical (临界的).” The size is the critical volume and the amount of fuel is the critical mass. Neutrons had to be introduced to start the chain reaction, but the number is maintained without further additions. The term (术语) critical mass has become popular to describe any collection of entities large enough to operate independently. P109第二段第三行末 If we add still more uranium to the 50 kg required for criticality (临界状态), more neutrons are produced than are lost, the neutron population (数量) increases, and the reactor is “supercritical (超临界的). ” Early nuclear weapons involved the use of such masses, in which the rapid growth of neutrons and resulting fission heat caused a violent explosion (爆炸