Neutron diffusion approximation solution for the the three layer borehole cylindrical geometry. Pt. 1. Theoretical description

A solution of the neutron diffusion equation is given for a three layer cylindrical coaxial geometry. The calculation is performed in two neutron-energy groups which distinguish the thermal and epithermal neutron fluxes in the media irradiated by the fast point neutron source. The aim of the calculation is to define the neutron slowing down and migration lengths which are observed at a given point of the system. Generally, the slowing down and migration lengths are defined for an infinite homogenous medium (irradiated by the point neutron source) as a quotient of the neutron flux moment of the (2n+2)-order to the moment of the 2n-order. Czubek(1992) introduced in the same manner the apparent neutron slowing down length and the apparent migration length for a given multi-region cylindrical geometry. The solutions in the present paper are applied to the method of semi-empirical calibration of neutron well-logging tools. The three-region cylindrical geometry corresponds to the borehole of radius R1 surrounded by the intermediate region (e.g. mud cake) of thickness (R2-R1) and finally surrounded by the geological formation which spreads from R2 up to infinity. The cylinders of an infinite length are considered. The paper gives detailed solutions for the 0-th, 2-nd and 4-th neutron moments of the neutron fluxes for each neutron energy group and in each cylindrical layer. A comprehensive list of the solutions for integrals containing Bessel functions or their derivatives, which are absent in common tables of integrals, is also included. (author)