Review of neutron noise analysis theory by Monte Carlo simulation

Some debates on the theory of neutron noise analysis for reactor kinetic parameter measurement were found before 1970 but a report firmly clearing these debates has not been found, and a question was raised when neutron noise experiments for the TRIGA and HANARO reactors in Korea were performed. In order to clarify this question, the neutron noise experiment is simulated by the Monte Carlo method. This simulation confirms that the widely used equation is approximately valid and that the confusion was caused from the explanation on the derivation of the equation. Rossi-α technique is one of the representative methods of noise analyses for the reactor kinetic parameter measurement, but different opinions were raised for the chain reaction related term in the equation. The equation originally derived at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been widely accepted. However, the others were supported by strict mathematics and experiments as well, and the reason of discrepancy has not been clarified. Since it is the problem of basic concept before the effect of neutron energy or geometry is included, the Monte Carlo simulation for the simplest reactor model could clarify it. For this purpose, the experiment measuring the neutron noise is simulated, and it results that the original equation is approximately valid. However, it is judged that the explanation on the equation by the authors derived it for the first time is not so correct, but Orndoff who made the first experiment by the Ross-α technique explained it rather correctly