Neutronics (or neutron physics) is the study of neutron paths through matter, of conditions for a chain reaction, and of alterations in matter's composition induced by nuclear reactions. It makes it possible to design and operate nuclear reactors and fuel cycle facilities. Using data from the quantum world (i.e., interactions between neutrons and atomic nuclei) to compute quantities such as a reactor's power, neutronics fills a gap between the microscopic and the macroscopic worlds. Due its multiscale character it works on time, space and energy scales extending over more than a dozen orders of magnitude. Born in 1932 with neutron discovery, neutronics is a fully mature science which however keeps evolving: for the steady increase in computer power upsets computational methods, questions experiment's status, and broadens the outlooks of numerical simulation. One of the current challenges is coupling neutronics with thermal-hydraulics and thermal-mechanics so as to simulate reactor behaviour.
This monograph gives an overview of neutronics referring to both research and applications, and highlights some outstanding results recently obtained.
Summary
- Introduction
- Nuclear Data
- Neutronics Methods
- Neutronics Computer Codes and High-Performance Computing
- Qualification and Experimental Neutronics
- Neutronics Applications
- Conclusion