Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory

This book is based on a one-year course in nuclear reactor theory which was given over a number of years at Cornell and New York Universities. The major objective of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the fundamental physical principles underlying the operation of a nuclear reactor. At the same time, it is expected that by the end of the course the student will be able to perform some of the more elementary calculations necessary in reactor design.

The prerequisites for this course, and hence for this book, are an undergraduate course in atomic and nuclear physics and a study of mathematics through advanced calculus. A knowledge of quantum mechanics is not assumed.