• Home
  • Search
  • The Stochastic Point Reactor Equation with Thermal Feedback
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2026.2633026Copy DOI Icon

The Stochastic Point Reactor Equation with Thermal Feedback

Show More
  • Abstract
  • Literature Map
  • Similar Papers
Abstract

Modeling and simulation of reactor kinetics under the point model approximation can be roughly divided into two categories: deterministic models, which consider the flux and other state variables (delayed neutrons, temperature, etc.) as time-dependent functions, and stochastic models, which study the flux as a stochastic process. Since the neutron reactions and fission chain are stochastic by nature, the stochastic models are a better reflection of the physical system. On the other hand, due to the complexity of the stochastic models and the large number of reactions, most common analysis is done in the deterministic setting via the widely spread point reactor kinetic (PRK) equation. In the most basic setting, when we assume that all reaction rates are constant in time, the PRK can be generalized to the stochastic setting via the master equation (Chapman–Kolmogorov equation). The resulting model is often implemented in reactor noise experiments and the Feynman-α method, and the interpretation of the deterministic model as a mean field approximation of the stochastic model is very well understood. Once we include nonlinear feedback into the equation (typically due to temperature influence on the cross-sections), the stochastic modeling becomes much more delicate, due to (at least) two issues: First, both energy and temperature are continuous, and thus the applicability of the master equation questionable. Second, in a nonlinear setting, the mean field approximation of the stochastic model is not equivalent to the PRK equation, and the two are unified only if we assume implicitly that the covariance of the power and the temperature is nullified, which is bound to create a systematic error. Thus, modeling and simulation of stochastic fission chains and temperature represent a central topic in reactor control and measurements. One of the most classic studies on stochastic fission chains in a reactor with thermal feedback is that of Harris (1958), where a discretization of the energy bins is performed to allow use of the master equation technique. The outline of the present study is to construct and study the properties of an Ito-type stochastic differential equation (SDE) counterpart to the classic Harris model. The contribution of the study will be divided into three consecutive steps: First, we will explicitly derive from first principles the parameters of the SDE. Then we will compute the covariance between the system variables and prove that the Harris model and the SDE model have a very strong common feature: They share the exact same second-moment equations. Finally, we will demonstrate the applicability of the SDE for a non-analog Monte Carlo scheme for sampling distribution of the different stochastic variables.

Similar Papers
  • Research Article

Stochastic modeling of neuronal signaling

  • Jan 01, 2008
  • Frontiers in Neuroinformatics
  • Linne Marja-Leena
  • Research Article
  • Citations111

Identifiability analysis for stochastic differential equation models in systems biology.

  • Dec 01, 2020
  • Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
  • Alexander P Browning +4
  • PDF
  • Research Article

Introducing a drift and diffusion framework for childhood growth research

  • Jun 29, 2020
  • Gates Open Research
  • Fraser I Lewis +7
  • Research Article

Machine learning methods for pricing financial derivatives

  • Feb 24, 2026
  • Quantitative Finance
  • Lei Fan +1
  • Conference Article
  • Citations4

Decision procedure based discovery of rare behaviors in Stochastic Differential Equation models of biological systems

  • Feb 01, 2012
  • Arup K Ghosh +4
  • Research Article
  • Citations3

Parameter Estimation via Fokker–Planck Type Residual: Application to Linear Stationary Random Vibration

  • Jan 01, 2020
  • The Proceedings of the International Conference on Motion and Vibration Control
  • Katsutoshi Yoshida +1
  • Research Article
  • Citations8

Maximum Likelihood Estimates of a Class of One‐Dimensional Stochastic Differential Equation Models From Discrete Data

  • Sep 01, 2001
  • Journal of Time Series Analysis
  • Eugene M Cleur
  • Research Article
  • Citations5

Parameter and uncertainty estimation in stochastic differential equation models with multi-rate data and nonstationary disturbances

  • May 01, 2022
  • Chemical Engineering Research and Design
  • Qiujun A Liu +2
  • PDF
  • Research Article
  • Citations71

Stochastic Differential Equation Model for Cerebellar Granule Cell Excitability

  • Feb 29, 2008
  • PLoS Computational Biology
  • Antti Saarinen +2
  • Research Article
  • Citations2

Adding noise to Markov cohort state-transition model in decision modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis.

  • Feb 04, 2020
  • Statistics in Medicine
  • Rowan Iskandar
  • Research Article
  • Citations12

Stochastic differential equation systems for an SIS epidemic model with vaccination and immigration

  • May 19, 2017
  • Communications in Statistics - Theory and Methods
  • Rahman Farnoosh +1
  • Research Article
  • Citations6

Modeling Reactor Noise due to Rod and Thermal Vibrations with Thermal Feedback Using Stochastic Differential Equations

  • Oct 28, 2020
  • Nuclear Science and Engineering
  • Chen Dubi +1
  • Research Article
  • Citations169

Construction of Equivalent Stochastic Differential Equation Models

  • Mar 07, 2008
  • Stochastic Analysis and Applications
  • Edward J Allen +3
  • Preprint Article

Reconstruction of Complex Dynamical Systems Using Stochastic Differential Equations

  • Mar 23, 2020
  • Forough Hassanibesheli +2
  • Research Article
  • Citations6

Analysis of deterministic and stochastic mathematical models with resistant bacteria and bacteria debris for bacteriophage dynamics

  • Sep 03, 2017
  • Applied Mathematics and Computation
  • Sukhitha W Vidurupola
Cactus Communications logo

Copyright 2026 Cactus Communications. All rights reserved.