Reactor sources
- This is the source capable of giving the greatest intensity of
neutrons.
- Neutrons are produced by neutron-induced fission, and therefore
neutrons are required to initiate the reaction.
- The number of neutrons produced per fission, v>1
and so a chain reaction can be sustained which maintains reactor
operation.
| Fuel |
En
(av) |
v |
| 235U |
0.025 eV |
2.44 |
|
1 MeV |
2.50 |
| 239Pu |
0.025 eV |
2.87 |
|
1 MeV |
3.00 |
- The high fluxes are particularly useful for the production of
radioisotopes by neutron activation which often have enhanced
production cross sections at thermal
or epithermal energies.
|