I have had this set of books for a while and find I have referred to the work more than any other. For those interested it is
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Fast Neutron Physics parts I and II by J.B.Marion and J.L.Fowler 1960 and 1963
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The two volume set amounts to nearly 2000 pages! It is a treasure house of data on fast neutron physics and is a long standing bible of the biz. As it is older, it has good stuff in it explained simply and clearly. Lots o' diagrams tables, lookup nomographs, etc. Math is given where there is no escape or to allow those wishing to go outside the experimentally derived tables to arrive at a good guess.
The book's preface reads like a wishbook for fusioneers. (In spite of its not being a fusion book) They state that they are dealing only with fast neuts of 100kev or greater, but mostly under 40mev.
The emphasis is touted to be on mono-energetic neutrons, but includes multi-energetic info. (we are mono-energetic)
The first book (Techniques) blasts into a long discussion of neutron sources with considerable detail given. (Find out why you can't stick together a usable neutron source from smoke alarms) The center of the first volume has hundreds of pages devoted to neutron detection! (no quick rinse here). A lot is given on moderation mediums, as well.
The second book, part II, is devoted to real experiments. Lots of good stuff here too. Not a light read.....Probably not ment to be read, per se, but nibbled at as needed.
If you ain't got this set, you are going to be hitting many, many other sources to piece together info on the making, collecting, counting and figuring out results in fast neutron physics.
Needless to say, the above is most likely well out of print. A lot of the good old stuff is that way.
Many modern tomes seek to impress the reader with the author's knowledge rather than inform a broad range of interested parties, in a seeming effort to exclude the great unwashed from the clubhouse.
Richard Hull
Created on Tuesday, December 12, 2000 7:04 PM EDT by Richard Hull