Linear Vs. Exponential Doubling Time in a Breeder

[terryphi]

Hey Guys,

From my understanding, the linear doubling time of a reactor is the time which the fissile nuclides in the reactor core double under a constant flux.

The exponential doubling time of a reactor is the time it takes for the fissile material in a core to double if you take each atom that is produced out of the core as soon as it is produced and put it in a new core.

When I say double i mean in terms of the number of atoms, not mass or volume.

So, would it be correct to say, for a given breeder reactor, the linear doubling time is the maximum amount of time that it will take for the fissile material to double whereas the exponential doubling time is the minimum?

-TP

 

[anorlunda]

There can be multiple meanings to doubling time. To me, it means the time for neutron flux to double. Others may be able to comment on this post from 2013 about breeding.