Auto-correlation and variance-to-mean measurements in a subcritical core obeying multiple alpha-modes

Abstract

Neutron noise measurements based on the Rossi-α and Feynman-α methodologies have been performed in a heterogeneous subcritical system. It is shown that the traditional single alpha-mode formulations of the Rossi-α and Feynman-α methods are not applicable due to the presence of higher alpha-modes. Formalisms taking into account multiple alpha-modes are applied resulting in satisfactory results. Three alpha-modes could be identified using the Rossi-α method, whereas only two could be obtained using the Feynman-α method. In the Feynman-α case, the possibility to obtain the fastest decaying alpha-mode was diminished due to detector dead time effects. It was found that the slowest decaying alpha-mode does not exactly correspond to the prompt decay found in pulsed neutron source measurements, which confirms the results of previous studies. Strengths and weaknesses of the multiple alpha-mode Rossi-α and Feynman-α methods observed in this study are pointed out.