9.

Fermi Age Theory

- Until now (in this chapter), only moderation in

medium, with uniform sources

- Consider now finite medium

non-uniform sources
simultaneous diffusion in energy and space

55
 Fermi Age Theory

- Usually quite complex!

But simple model due to Fermi
Simplifications (for time being)
- 1 type of moderator
- isotropic scattering in c.m. system
(then = constant)
- mono-energetic sources

56
 Fermi Age Theory

- Recall:
- after n collisions, average lethargy of neutron n
- on average upon collision, lethargy of neutron
increase by

- Fermi Model:
at every collision, the lethargy of all neutrons
increases precisely by value

57
 Fermi Age Theory
- But then, only discrete lethargy values would exist:
0, , 2, 3,

Consider u as a continuous variable that acquires

value n u after n collisions

Sometimes Fermi is called:

continuous slowing down model
58
 Fermi Age Theory

- Consider particle balance in du dV

u + du

u
dV

* inside interval du, net particle efflux from dV due

to collisions J ( r , u ) du dV

* inside dV, particles scatter in and out of du

q
q ( r , u + du ) q ( r , u ) dV =( r , u ) du dV
u
59
 Fermi Age Theory

- Assume: no sources
no absorption
stationary state:
q
J (r ,u) + (r ,u) =0
u

60
 Fermi Age Theory

- Now J to be expressed in terms of q

D(u ) (r , u )
we know: J (r , u ) =

At every collision, neutron gains lethargy of precisely

all collision in (u-, u) pass through u and
contribute to q(u)

u

(q r , u ) ( , u ') du '
= F r
u

Assume now F ~ constant within u =

q ( r , u )= F ( r , u )= s ( u ) ( r , u )
61
 Fermi Age Theory

- Consequently:
D (u ) 2 q
q (r ,u) = (r ,u)
s (u ) u

- Define a new variable:

u
D (u ) d D (u )
(u ) du or =
0
s (u ) du s ( u )
Consequently:
d D (u )
= =
u du s ( u )
62
 Fermi Age Theory

Therefore

q
q ( r , ) =
2
( r , )

Fermi Age Equation
Fermi Age

63
 Fermi Age Theory

Note: Dimensions [ ] = m
But is a monotonic function of the time duration during
slowing-down process
during distance dx sdx collisions
increase in lethargy du = sdx
u

evaluate = D ( u ) dx D l ( u )
0
covered distance ~ time duration

64
10. Boundary Conditions for the Age
Equation

eq. is identical (in form) to

- time dependent diffusion eq w/o absorption
- time dependent heat diffusion eq.
boundary conditions analogous

65
 Boundary Conditions for the Age
Equation

i) Source condition
During derivation: all n born with u = 0, hence at
=0

Continuous slowing-down model: n begin to slow

down right after birth

q ( r , 0) =
s (r )

66
 Boundary Conditions for the Age
Equation

ii) Boundary Condition at free surface

q ( r , u )= s ( u ) ( r , u )

q zero at entrapolated edge of surface

iii) Continuity flux & current at interface

q ( r , ) s continuous
D
q ( r , ) continuous
s 67
 10. Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

- extrapolated thickness a
- infinite planar source: S fast neutrons/m-s with
energy E0
q ( x, ) q ( x, )
2

=
x 2

- Take origin x=0 in middle of slab, where S is

68
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

- Boundary conditions:
*s ( =
x) S ( x) q ( x, o=
) S ( x)

a
* q , =
0
2

* q ( x, ) =
q ( x, ) symmetry

69
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

- Solution through eigen function method

eigen function for slab:
n ( x ) = cos Bn x

Bn = n , n odd
a
Let then: q ( x, ) = f n ( ) cos Bn x
n
odd

f n ( ) to be determined
70
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

Insert now assumed eigen-function expansion for q ( x, )

into Fermi equation:
df n
B f cos Bn x =
2
cos Bn x
d
n n
n n
odd odd

Because of orthogonality:
df n
= Bn2 f n
d
With solution:
Bn2
f n = An e
71
still unknown constant
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

For the time being, one has:

q ( x, ) = An e Bn2
cos Bn x (&)
n
odd

still unknown

72
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite slab

Consider source condition: q ( x, o ) = S ( x )

S ( x ) = An cos Bn x together with (&) at =0

n
odd

+a 2

multiply both sides by cos Bm x and integrate

a 2

An= 2 S = constant
a

2S
Solution: q ( x, ) =
a
e Bn2
cos Bn x Bn n a

n odd 73
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite medium

- Same Fermi equation

Same bound. conds. as before, except
now q ( x, ) 0 for x

- Discrete set of eigen functions not applicable

- Now rather a continuum of eigen values
- Solution to be found as integral rather than series

74
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite medium
+

- Let q ( x, ) = F ( B, ) cos Bx dB

to be found

- Substitute in Fermi equation:

F
B 2 F ( B, ) cos Bx dB =
( B, ) cos Bx dB
F
such that: ( B, ) = B 2 F ( B, )

and thus: F ( B, ) = G ( B ) e B 2

still unknown 75
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite medium
Temporary solution:
+
q ( x, ) = G ( B) e
B 2
cos Bx dB

Boundary solution for =0

+
s ( x) = G ( B ) cos Bx dB

One can show that

+
1
( x) = cos Bx dB ,
2
such that
G ( B) = S
2 76
 Solutions of Age Equation
Planar source in infinite medium

Result for q ( x, )
+
S
q ( x, ) = e
B 2
cos Bx dB
2

can be evaluated as

x2
S
q ( x, ) = e 4 Gaussian in x
4
77
 Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium
Start from (normalized) result for planar source:
1 x2
q pl ( x, ) = e 4
4
S 1 neutron
m2 s

Consider now slowing-down density of point source (S=1)

at distance r:
d
r
q pt ( r , )

P
x
78
 Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium
For a circular annulus with thickness d:

dq pl ( x, ) = 2 d q pt ( r , )

q pl ( x, ) = 2 q pt ( r , ) d
0
x2 + 2 =r2
d = rdr
q pl ( x, ) = 2 q pt ( r , ) r dr
x

after differentiation
q pl
( x, ) = 2 x q pt ( x, )
x

79
 Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium
1 q pl
Hence q pt ( x, ) = ( x, )
2 x x

with qpl of previous transparancy but again with

variable r
r 2 4
e
q pt ( r , ) =
( 4 )
32

If source strength S per second:

r 2 4
e
q pt ( r , ) = S see figs 6.11 & 6.12

( 4 )
32
80
 Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium
Remark Fig 6.11:
integral underneath curves = 1 (for all )
stationary & without absorption
q ( ) = q ( r , ) dv S 1
=
hence, independent of

81
Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium

Spatial dependence for fixed

82
Solutions of Age Equation
Point source in infinite medium

Energy dependence
(hence u, or )
For fixed locations r

Maximum in increases
with r
(the farther from the
source, the larger the age)

83
 12. Physical Meaning of Fermi Age

- Analogous argument as for L before.

- Consider (isotropic) point source with

S neutrons/s

- Take spherical shell with thickness dr about S

number of neutrons in that spherical shell that
slow down at age
= 4 r 2 dr q ( r , )
84
 Physical Meaning of Fermi Age
- Now, p(r)dr = probability that a neutron will have
age between r and r+dr

- Consequently:
q ( r , ) 4 r 2 dr
p ( r ) dr =
S

2 r 2 4
or thus: 4 r e
p (r ) =
( 4 )
32

85
 Physical Meaning of Fermi Age
- Compute now r2

4
r r p ( r ) dr=
2 2
r e 4 r 2 4
dr= ...= 6
( 4 )
32
0 0

1 2
=r
6
1
* Hence with = r 2
1 6
= of the average of the square of the crow flight
6 distance between the place of birth (where = 0 )
and the location where the age equals

86
 Physical Meaning of Fermi Age

* Special case: age till thermal energies T

T "slowing-down-length"

* Even if Fermis theory is not valid, then still

1 2
defined as = r
6

87
 Physical Meaning of Fermi Age

generally: q ( r , u ) 4 r 2 dr
p ( r ) dr =
S

1 2 4 4
= = r p ( r ) dr r q ( r , u ) dr
60 6S 0

with S = 4 r 2 q ( r , u ) dr
0

q ( r , u ) dr
4
r
10
=
6
q ( r , u ) dr
2
r
0 88
 13. Validity of Age Theory

The following basic assumptions had been put forward:

1- all neutrons considered as average neutrons

2- collision density F ( r , u ) ~ constant over lethargy
interval
3- diffusion theory valid for all E

It will turn out that

age theory is not really suitable for H media!

89
 Validity of Age Theory

1) * Recall 1
1 (1 )
2

2
fractional deviation in u
= = 1
after n collisions n n

For a given u, this frac. deviation decreases with A

more collisions n needed for same u for large A
( )
2
factor 1 decreases with A
1

(= 0 for H; 1 for A )

(= 1 for H; 0 for A )
Fermi better suited for bigger A,
but still valuable for H 90
 Validity of Age Theory

Example:
in H
slowing down from 2 MeV 1 eV
14.5 collisions needed
/n = 0.26

26% fluctuation in u spread in E between 0.014 and 70eV

considerable spread in E; still useful info for H (see further)

91
 Validity of Age Theory
2) * F(r,u) ~constant over u =
From transport-theory computations
F(u) very well constant (even for H)

(Recall: when no absorption, then F exactly constant for all

A in space-independent problems)

3) * Ficks Law / Diffusion theory

Fick is not valid in H at higher energies (> 10 keV)

- see Fig. 6.13 -

92
Validity of Age Theory

93
 Validity of Age Theory

E > 10 keV
T decreases by factor 10 between 10 keV and 2 MeV

Consider neutron with E0 = 2 MeV

1
T ~ small =

s
~ large
= 1 for H; after first collision E = factor e
now T larger smaller
smaller E larger T smaller

94
 Validity of Age Theory

decreases with n
after first collision point, less migration!
then for E 10 keV, T constant but large
n continuous to collide around, but with small
remains in the neighborhood

Roughly: in H, neutrons slow down in the

neighborhood of the first collision point

95
 Validity of Age Theory

But!
Ficks Law is not valid at distances
(mean free path) from a source

In H, neutron does not move much further than 1

slowing down density in H
rather determined by 1 than by diffusion

96
 Validity of Age Theory

Now, neutrons undergo slowing down process

near first collision
slowing down density q collision density F1
F1 = suncollided
= s ( E0 ) S e
s ( E0 ) r
4 r 2

S s ( E0 ) e
s ( E0 ) r

Hence q (r )
4 r 2

Gaussian
f ( )
moderation occurs at location of first collision97
 Validity of Age Theory

E < 10 keV
constant, but large

here age theory applicable (but relatively

large fluctuations)

98
 Moderation of Neutrons

14. Measurement neutron age

compulsory reading
15. Inelastic scattering in the slowing
down of neutrons
compulsory reading
16. Methods of calculating age

18. Slowing down kernels
compulsory reading
99
 17. Elastic Moderation Time

Average time for slowing down between Ei and E

can be computed through age theory

During dt dx =v dt
du = s v dt
du = dE E
dE
s v dt 1 2
E E= mv
2
dv 1
= 2
s dt
v 2

( 2dv )=
dv
dt = 2
sv2
t v
2 1 1
=
t dt= v
0 vi s
2
s

v vi
100
 Elastic Moderation Time

In particular: moderation in tm
= slowing down to 1 eV
(2-nd term negligible)

tm 2 s vm
=

tm in H 2O 1.0 s
Be 9.3 s
C 23 s
101