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Charged Particle Ejection

Charged particle reactions are usually associated with the formation of a compound nucleus, which is excited to a high energy level, that such compound nucleus can eject a new charged particle. At the same time, the incident neutron remains in the nucleus.

After the new particle is ejected, the remaining nucleus is completely changed but may or may not exist in an excited state depending upon the mass-energy balance of the reaction. This type of reaction is more common for charged particles as incident particles (such as alpha particles, protons, and so on).

The case of neutron-induced charged particle reactions is not so common. Still, some neutron-induced charged particle reactions are important in reactivity control and the detection of neutrons.

The most important charged particle reactions in nuclear reactor physics are reactions of thermal neutrons with boron nuclei (rather with 10B nuclei). In the nuclear industry, boron is commonly used as a neutron absorber and a neutron converter (in neutron radiation detectors) due to its high neutron cross-section of isotope 10B along the entire neutron energy spectrum. Its (n,alpha) reaction cross-section for thermal neutrons is about 3840 barns (for 0.025 eV neutron). Examples of neutron-induced charged particle reactions are shown below:

See also: Application of boron-based materials
See also: Detection of neutrons

Examples of (n, alpha) reactions

10B(n,alpha)7Li

This reaction is the most important (n, alpha) reaction of isotope 10B with thermal neutrons. This reaction can be used in the case of neutron absorbers (chemical shim, burnable absorbers, or control rods) and the case of neutron converters (neutron detectors) because its cross-section is very high produces energetic alpha particles.

(n,alpha) reactions of 10B

6Li(n,α)3H

This is a reaction allowing the detection of neutrons. The reaction cross-section for thermal neutrons is σ = 925 barns, and the natural lithium has an abundance of 6Li 7,4%.

Boron 10. Comparison of total cross-section and cross-section for (n,alpha) reactions.
Source: JANIS (Java-based Nuclear Data Information Software); The JEFF-3.1.1 Nuclear Data Library

Examples of (n,p) reactions

3He(n,p)3H

This is a reaction allowing the detection of neutrons. The reaction cross-section for thermal neutrons is σ = 5350 barns, and the natural helium has an abundance of isotope 3He 0.014%.

14N (n,p) 14C

This nuclear reaction continually occurs, especially in the earth’s atmosphere, forming equilibrium amounts of the radionuclide 14C. In nuclear power plants, it is important, especially from a radiation protection point of view. The reaction is responsible for most of the radiation dose delivered to the human body by thermal neutrons. The nitrogen atoms are contained in proteins. Therefore if the human body is exposed to thermal neutrons, then these thermal neutrons may be absorbed by 14N, causing a proton emission. Protons are directly ionizing particles and deposit their energy over a very short distance in the body tissue.

Examples of (n,…) reactions

Cross-section of 10B(n,2alpha)T reaction.
Cross-section of 10B(n,2alpha)T reaction.

10B(n,T + 2*alpha)

This threshold reaction of the fast neutron with an isotope 10B is the main way radioactive tritium in the primary circuit of all PWRs is generated. 10B is the principal source of radioactive tritium in the primary circuit of all PWRs (which use boric acid as a chemical shim). Direct nuclear reactionNote that this reaction occurs very rarely compared to the most common (n, alpha) reaction of isotope 10B with thermal neutrons.

There are more reactions with neutrons, which can rarely lead to formation of radioactive tritium, for example:

10B(n,alpha)7Li + 7Li(n,n+alpha)3H  – threshold reaction (~3 MeV).

 
References:
Nuclear and Reactor Physics:
  1. J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1983).
  2. J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.
  3. W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
  4. Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering, Springer; 4th edition, 1994, ISBN: 978-0412985317
  5. W.S.C. Williams. Nuclear and Particle Physics. Clarendon Press; 1 edition, 1991, ISBN: 978-0198520467
  6. G.R.Keepin. Physics of Nuclear Kinetics. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co; 1st edition, 1965
  7. Robert Reed Burn, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operation, 1988.
  8. U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

Advanced Reactor Physics:

  1. K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.
  2. K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985, ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.
  3. D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-2. 
  4. E. E. Lewis, W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48452-4.

See previous:

See above:

Neutron Reactions

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