In a reactor of given volume in which fission is caused by neutrons of specified energy, the thermal power is proportional to the neutron flux and macroscopic fission cross section. As the reactor operates, the macroscopic cross section decreases as number of fissile nuclides decreases. However, over an essentially short period of time, the cross section remains constant, and the power is assumed to change only with neutron flux.
There are two possible outcomes: If the result confirms the hypothesis, then you’ve made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you’ve made a discovery. Enrico Fermi (1901–1954)
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Jevremovic, T. (2009). Nuclear Reactor Control. In: Nuclear Principles in Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85608-7_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85608-7_9
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