Master thesis in Physics presentation. The title is "Modelling and simulations of neutron noise experiments".
Supervisor: Paolo Vinai (Physics and Astronomy, Chalmers)
This thesis focuses on neutron noise and how it can be used to detect anomalies in the core of a nuclear reactor. Neutron noise refers to the stationary fluctuations of the neutron flux around its nominal value, and can be analysed and monitored through a technique called neutron noise diagnostics. By identifying irregularities in the flux, anomalies that may lead to safety issues can be detected at an early stage, allowing prompt actions to be taken to prevent potential accidents.
In this thesis, we modelled neutron noise experiments performed in a research reactor and used a numerical solver to simulate the reactor's response to different noise source configurations. The validity of the solver was then evaluated through comparisons between simulated and experimentally measured data. We found that the solver accurately reproduces the neutron noise at detector positions farther from the noise source, whereas in close proximity to the source the deviations from the measured response are more pronounced. These discrepancies are likely linked to the underlying approximations implemented by the solver.