What Are the Results of Foil Irradiation in a Reactor?

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In summary, two pure manganese foils, one bare and one with a cadmium cover, were irradiated in a reactor for 60.0-s and allowed to decay for 1800.0-s. The activity of the bare foil was measured to be 1.49 x 107 Bq and the activity of the Cd-covered foil was 2.34 x 106 Bq. Using the Chart of the Nuclides, the saturation activity, epithermal neutron flux, 2200-m/s neutron flux, and Cd ratio were determined to be the following: a. (5 min) The saturation activity of each foil (in Bq). b. (5 min) The epithermal neutron flux (in
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Homework Statement



Two pure manganese foils are irradiated in a reactor. Each foil has a mass of
0.0055 g. One foil is irradiated bare in the reactor. The other foil is irradiated with a
cadmium cover in place. The foils are irradiated for 60.0-s, and then allowed to decay for
1800.0-s prior to counting. The activity of the bare and Cd-covered foils, corrected for
detector efficiency and corrected to the end-of-irradiation (EOI) time, are 1.49 x 107 Bq and
2.34 x 106 Bq, respectively. Figure 1 contains an excerpt from the Chart of the Nuclides
which may contain data useful for completing this problem.

Based on the measured results and the data provided, determine the following:
a. (5 min) The saturation activity of each foil (in Bq).
b. (5 min) The epithermal neutron flux (in n/cm2-s) in this reactor position.
c. (5 min) The 2200-m/s neutron flux (in n/cm2-s) in this reactor position.
d. (5 min) The Cd ratio for this position in the core.

Homework Equations



[tex]\dot{N} = N \sigma \phi - λN = 0 → A_{sat} = N \sigma \phi[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



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I'm sorry you are not generating any responses at the moment. Is there any additional information you can share with us? Any new findings?
 

FAQ: What Are the Results of Foil Irradiation in a Reactor?

1. What is foil irradiation in a reactor?

Foil irradiation in a reactor is a process where thin sheets of materials, usually metal, are placed in a nuclear reactor to be exposed to neutron radiation. This is done to study how the materials react to the radiation and to gather data on their physical and chemical properties.

2. Why is foil irradiation important?

Foil irradiation is important because it allows scientists to simulate the effects of radiation on different materials under controlled conditions. This helps in the development of new materials for use in nuclear reactors and other applications, as well as in understanding the behavior of existing materials under radiation.

3. How is foil irradiation carried out in a reactor?

Foil irradiation is typically carried out by inserting thin sheets of materials, usually less than 1 mm thick, into a specially designed capsule. The capsule is then placed in the reactor core, where it is exposed to neutron radiation. After a certain period of time, the capsule is removed and the foil samples are analyzed to determine any changes in their properties.

4. What types of materials are typically used in foil irradiation?

Commonly used materials in foil irradiation include various metals, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and zirconium, as well as alloys and composites. Other materials, such as ceramics and polymers, may also be studied through foil irradiation in some cases.

5. What are the potential risks of foil irradiation in a reactor?

The risks of foil irradiation in a reactor are minimal, as the process is carefully controlled and the materials used are typically low in radioactivity. However, there is still a small risk of radiation exposure to the scientists handling the samples during and after irradiation, which is why strict safety protocols are followed. Additionally, there is a risk of the samples becoming activated and emitting low levels of radiation after being removed from the reactor, but this is also closely monitored and controlled.

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