Atomic Energy Commission Report AECU-3108

A basic technique in the design of a nuclear power reactor is to prescribe the dimensions and composition of a simplified model and to calculate the corresponding neutron flux and power distributions. Comparison of calculations for different models and of particular calculations to experimental results guides the physicist to a reasonable prescription. Until recently, the usual model had spherical or cylindrical symmetry. We have found it feasible to extend the methods to include a class of reactors in which there is variation of composition with respect to two space-dimensions. In this paper, we summarize some of our experience with these calculations