Kinetics equations for neutron distributions

Kinetic equations for neutrons and some of the other kinds of particles important to neutron balance in reactors and reactor-like systems are derived from a quantum Liouville equation. In particular, equations for some of the relevant singlet and doublet densities in phase space are deduced for the purpose of studying neutron density fluctuations.The equations describing neutron densities, ignoring delayed neutron precursors, are then singled out for special attention. These equations are reduced to `one-speed' or mono-energetic analogues, and are then approximated by equations for the zeroth and first angular moments of these densities. During the process, points of connexion with the descriptions of neutron density fluctuations by various other authors are made.Formal solutions of the equations in phase space are displayed, along with an explicit solution of the reduced equations. Properties of these solutions are discussed, with particular interest paid to the implications for the `critical limit'.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31998/1/0000040.pd