- Email: [email protected]
Nuclear graphite
NUCLEAR
INSTRUMENTS
AND
METHODS
24
(1963)
251;
NORTH-HOLLAND
PUBLISHING
CO.
BOOK REVIEWS G. M. WING, A n Introduction to Transport Theory (John W i l e y & Sons, L o n d o n and New York, 1963) 169 pp., 16 shilling.
R. E. NIGHTINGALE. Nuclear Graphite (Academic Press, New York and London, 1962) X I V + 547 pp., V.S. $ 15.80.
The great interest of physicists in t r a n s p o r t theory w i t h emphasis on the t r a n s p o r t of neutrons in various moderators has d u r i n g the last decades led to an i m p o s i n g p r o d u c t i o n of papers concerning a p p r o x i m a t e methods. However, i t is felt t h a t reactor theory needs the a t t e n t i o n of m a t h e m a t i c i a n s to s t u d y the u n d e r l y i n g equations. F o r t u n a t e l y , it now seems t h a t even t h e m a t h e m a t i c i a n s have begun to find interest in this field. The book by Dr. W i n g is an i l l u s t r a t i o n of this fact. A l t h o u g h i t does n o t explicitely refer to neutrons i t contains ideas t h a t could certainly be extended to problems of interest for reactor physicists. The a u t h o r discusses the t r a n s p o r t of particles in very simple rod models using b o t h the classical ]3oltzmann p o i n t of view and the i n v a r i a n t i m b e d d i n g approach. After a t h o r o u g h consideration of the s t a t i o n a r y state t h e a u t h o r t u r n s to t h e t i m e d e p e n d e n t case and gives a detailed review of the eigenvalue problem. The W i e n e r - H o p f solution of the Milne problem is f u r t h e r discussed. The book ends w i t h an interesting survey of some recent results. One would hope t h a t a systematic analysis of more realistic transp o r t problems along the line indicated b y the a u t h o r will lead t o an increasing knowledge in this i m p o r t a n t field.
G r a p h i t e is a very i m p o r t a n t m a t e r i a l in reactor t e c h n o l o g y a n d for all people working in this field it is quite necessary t o be familiar w i t h its properties. A lot of work has been done in order to produce a g r a p h i t e with the desired properties a n d t o elucidate these properties. Much of this work has never been p u b l i s h e d a n d one of the m o t i v e s of the present volume is " t o survey the literature and to p r o v i d e a comprehensive selected b i b l i o g r a p h y of useful references." Twentyone specialists have c o n t r i b u t e d in seventeen chapters to give a pres e n t a t i o n of historical aspects, m a n u f a c t u r i n g procedures, mechanical a n d electrical properties, r a d i a t i o n effects, stored energy, and reactor design. The various chapters are very well written, t h e y give together with very clear tables and figures a m o s t authorized account of the broad field. The book can be h i g h l y recommended to both engineers and scientists as a useful source of v a l u a b l e information. P.-O. KINELL
A. CLAESSON
NEWS ITEMS NINTH SCINTILLATION A N D SEMICONDUCTOR COUNTER SYMPOSIUM
The N i n t h S c i n t i l l a t i o n and Semiconductor Counter Symp o s i u m will be held F e b r u a r y 26 28, 1964 a t the H o t e l Shoreham, W a s h i n g t o n , D.C. These Symposia h a v e been held b i e n n i a l l y for the p a s t sixteen years a n d serve to b r i n g t o g e t h e r those interested in these detectors either as users or designers. The six d a y t i m e technical sessions include the following topics : 1. P h o t o m u l t i p l i e r s and image tubes 2. Scintillators a n d s c i n t i l l a t o r c o m b i n a t i o n s 3. Semiconductor and special detectors 4. Circuitry and a p p l i c a t i o n s 5. M u l t i - d i m e n s i o n a l d a t a acquisition and p r e s e n t a t i o n track i m a g i n g (Scintillation a n d Spark} complex detector a n d d a t a processing systems 6. R a d i a t i o n detection in space and other special applications B o t h theoretical and practical aspects of the newer techniques, equipments, and components will be covered in i n v i t e d a n d c o n t r i b u t e d papers. Abstracts of c o n t r i b u t e d papers should be s u b m i t t e d to W. A. H i g i n b o t h a m , Chairman, P r o g r a m Committee, B r o o k h a v e n N a t i o n a l Laboratories, U p t o n , L.I., 251
New York, U.S.A. The deadline for abstracts is December 1, 1963. A b a n q u e t is scheduled for the evening of F e b r u a r y 26. Some of the latest e q u i p m e n t available i n the scintillation and semiconductor counter field will be displayed in a l i m i t e d exhibition. The sponsors of the forthcoming S y m p o s i u m are the U.S. A t o m i c E n e r g y Commission, the I n s t i t u t e of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the U.S. N a t i o n a l Bureau o f Standards. F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n m a y be obtained from G. A. Morton, Chairman, S y m p o s i u m Committee, RCA Laboratories, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.
A N N U A L E X H I B I T I O N OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS A N D APPARATUS
The I n s t i t u t e of Physics and The Physical Society announces t h a t its 1964 E x h i b i t i o n of Scientific I n s t r u m e n t s and Apparatus will be held in the Halls of The Royal H o r t i c u l t u r a l Society, Vincent Square, L o n d o n S.W. 1. from 6-9 J a n u a r y 1964. The 1965 E x h i b i t i o n will be held in the first week of April, i n The Manchester College of Science and Technology.
INSTRUMENTS
AND
METHODS
24
(1963)
251;
NORTH-HOLLAND
PUBLISHING
CO.
BOOK REVIEWS G. M. WING, A n Introduction to Transport Theory (John W i l e y & Sons, L o n d o n and New York, 1963) 169 pp., 16 shilling.
R. E. NIGHTINGALE. Nuclear Graphite (Academic Press, New York and London, 1962) X I V + 547 pp., V.S. $ 15.80.
The great interest of physicists in t r a n s p o r t theory w i t h emphasis on the t r a n s p o r t of neutrons in various moderators has d u r i n g the last decades led to an i m p o s i n g p r o d u c t i o n of papers concerning a p p r o x i m a t e methods. However, i t is felt t h a t reactor theory needs the a t t e n t i o n of m a t h e m a t i c i a n s to s t u d y the u n d e r l y i n g equations. F o r t u n a t e l y , it now seems t h a t even t h e m a t h e m a t i c i a n s have begun to find interest in this field. The book by Dr. W i n g is an i l l u s t r a t i o n of this fact. A l t h o u g h i t does n o t explicitely refer to neutrons i t contains ideas t h a t could certainly be extended to problems of interest for reactor physicists. The a u t h o r discusses the t r a n s p o r t of particles in very simple rod models using b o t h the classical ]3oltzmann p o i n t of view and the i n v a r i a n t i m b e d d i n g approach. After a t h o r o u g h consideration of the s t a t i o n a r y state t h e a u t h o r t u r n s to t h e t i m e d e p e n d e n t case and gives a detailed review of the eigenvalue problem. The W i e n e r - H o p f solution of the Milne problem is f u r t h e r discussed. The book ends w i t h an interesting survey of some recent results. One would hope t h a t a systematic analysis of more realistic transp o r t problems along the line indicated b y the a u t h o r will lead t o an increasing knowledge in this i m p o r t a n t field.
G r a p h i t e is a very i m p o r t a n t m a t e r i a l in reactor t e c h n o l o g y a n d for all people working in this field it is quite necessary t o be familiar w i t h its properties. A lot of work has been done in order to produce a g r a p h i t e with the desired properties a n d t o elucidate these properties. Much of this work has never been p u b l i s h e d a n d one of the m o t i v e s of the present volume is " t o survey the literature and to p r o v i d e a comprehensive selected b i b l i o g r a p h y of useful references." Twentyone specialists have c o n t r i b u t e d in seventeen chapters to give a pres e n t a t i o n of historical aspects, m a n u f a c t u r i n g procedures, mechanical a n d electrical properties, r a d i a t i o n effects, stored energy, and reactor design. The various chapters are very well written, t h e y give together with very clear tables and figures a m o s t authorized account of the broad field. The book can be h i g h l y recommended to both engineers and scientists as a useful source of v a l u a b l e information. P.-O. KINELL
A. CLAESSON
NEWS ITEMS NINTH SCINTILLATION A N D SEMICONDUCTOR COUNTER SYMPOSIUM
The N i n t h S c i n t i l l a t i o n and Semiconductor Counter Symp o s i u m will be held F e b r u a r y 26 28, 1964 a t the H o t e l Shoreham, W a s h i n g t o n , D.C. These Symposia h a v e been held b i e n n i a l l y for the p a s t sixteen years a n d serve to b r i n g t o g e t h e r those interested in these detectors either as users or designers. The six d a y t i m e technical sessions include the following topics : 1. P h o t o m u l t i p l i e r s and image tubes 2. Scintillators a n d s c i n t i l l a t o r c o m b i n a t i o n s 3. Semiconductor and special detectors 4. Circuitry and a p p l i c a t i o n s 5. M u l t i - d i m e n s i o n a l d a t a acquisition and p r e s e n t a t i o n track i m a g i n g (Scintillation a n d Spark} complex detector a n d d a t a processing systems 6. R a d i a t i o n detection in space and other special applications B o t h theoretical and practical aspects of the newer techniques, equipments, and components will be covered in i n v i t e d a n d c o n t r i b u t e d papers. Abstracts of c o n t r i b u t e d papers should be s u b m i t t e d to W. A. H i g i n b o t h a m , Chairman, P r o g r a m Committee, B r o o k h a v e n N a t i o n a l Laboratories, U p t o n , L.I., 251
New York, U.S.A. The deadline for abstracts is December 1, 1963. A b a n q u e t is scheduled for the evening of F e b r u a r y 26. Some of the latest e q u i p m e n t available i n the scintillation and semiconductor counter field will be displayed in a l i m i t e d exhibition. The sponsors of the forthcoming S y m p o s i u m are the U.S. A t o m i c E n e r g y Commission, the I n s t i t u t e of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the U.S. N a t i o n a l Bureau o f Standards. F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n m a y be obtained from G. A. Morton, Chairman, S y m p o s i u m Committee, RCA Laboratories, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.
A N N U A L E X H I B I T I O N OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS A N D APPARATUS
The I n s t i t u t e of Physics and The Physical Society announces t h a t its 1964 E x h i b i t i o n of Scientific I n s t r u m e n t s and Apparatus will be held in the Halls of The Royal H o r t i c u l t u r a l Society, Vincent Square, L o n d o n S.W. 1. from 6-9 J a n u a r y 1964. The 1965 E x h i b i t i o n will be held in the first week of April, i n The Manchester College of Science and Technology.