THE DIFFUSION LENGTH OF THERMAL NEUTRONS IN HEAVY WATER CONTAINING LITHIUM CARBONATE

Abstract

The density distribution of thermal neutrons was measured with a small boron trifluoride chamber in a cylindrical tank containing 113 litres of heavy water in which lithium carbonate was dissolved. The diffusion length was found to be 22.7 cm. in this solution containing 7.70 × 10−4 atoms of lithium per molecule of heavy water (99.4 atom % D). After corrections were applied for the capture of neutrons in the heavy water and light hydrogen, the capture cross-section of lithium was found to be 59 × 10−24 cm.2 per atom for neutrons of standard velocity 2200 m. per sec. from the measured diffusion length and known transport mean free path.