On the possible use of the neutron current in core monitoring and noise diagnostics

Abstract-It is suggested that the information contained in the angular dependence of the flux. at least in the lower order moments such as the current. partial current or just the flux gradient. be used in core monitoring and diagnostics. The motivation for this proposal arises partly from the fact that with todayʹs technology, angularly sensitive detectors, i.e. current or gradient detectors. suitable for industrial applications, can be constructed. The potentials of the use of the current (gradient), and the enhancement it may give to monitoring and diagnostic appJications, is demonstrated through some simple model cases. It is shown that in spatial (noise) source reconstruction, i.e. locating both static and dynamic sources such as anomalies. discontinuities etc .. the enhancement resulting from the use of the current is substantial