The response of the reactor kinetic equations to square wave oscillations of reactivity

The experimental determination of the nuclear properties of materials and of certain reactor parameters by means of oscillator techniques is facilitated if square wave rather than sinusoidal fluctuations of reactivity are induced by the specimen. An analytical expression is developed for the time response of the kinetic equations to such disturbances and, of particular interest, expressions are given for the amplitude of the perturbations in neutron flux and for a simply calculated quantity which is linear with period. (author)