Abstract
This chapter analyzes criticality in a neutron multiplying medium. Infinite and effective multiplication factors (k∞ and keff) quantify the degree of criticality in infinite and finite media, respectively, with neutron leakage distinguishing the interrelationship between k∞ and keff. Four central nuclear engineering parameters describe the neutron lifecycle: the reproduction factor η, the thermal utilization f, the resonance escape probability ℘, and the fast fission factor ε. The product of these four factors is utilized to compute k∞ of a thermal reactor, whereas the fast reactor k∞ can be expressed with a subset of these four parameters. Reactor thermal power may be calculated from the fission rate via the neutron flux. A natural reactor existed at Oklo, Africa about 2 billion years ago.
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