In 1933 Szil�rd conceived the idea of neutron chain reaction, and filed for patents on it in 1934.
2.
With enough uranium, and with pure-enough graphite, their " pile " could theoretically sustain a slow-neutron chain reaction.
3.
My question is whether fast neutron reactors would act differently in this regard, in terms of becoming supercritical with a fast neutron chain reaction.
4.
Under all definitions above, uranium-238 ( ) is fissionable, but because it cannot sustain a neutron chain reaction, it is not fissile.
5.
This delayed neutron fraction, on the order of 0.007 for uranium, is crucial for the control of the neutron chain reaction in one dollar of reactivity.
6.
But could you get 10-100 ton TNT equivalent from a fast neutron chain reaction in a reactor that had, say, 20 %-90 % enriched U-235?
7.
In-situ plutonium production also contributes to the neutron chain reaction in other types of reactors after sufficient plutonium-239 has been produced, since plutonium-239 is also a fissile element which serves as fuel.
8.
One can endlessly find statements that reactors cannot detonate " like nuclear bombs ", because they use slow-neutron chain reactions, and for a weapon-sized explosion you need a fast-neutron chain reaction.
9.
One can endlessly find statements that reactors cannot detonate " like nuclear bombs ", because they use slow-neutron chain reactions, and for a weapon-sized explosion you need a fast-neutron chain reaction.
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