Geometric buckling measurements using the pulsed neutron source method

The geometric buckling of cylindrical reactors with one or both ends rounded has been determined by pulsed source measurements with small polyethylene geometries. The results were in general accord with theoretical calculations. The diffusion parameters of polyethylene were also determined. The diffusion length was 2.12 ± 0.03 cm, and for the capture cross section of hydrogen a value of 0.337 ± 0.005 barns was found. The effect of control rods was studied using thin cadmium rods in water. Good agreement was found for axial, central rods, whereas the theoretical predictions for the effect of diagonal rods were too high