Subcritical nuclear systems and their stability against changes in the geometrical set-up

A specific subcritical reactor system has been suggested and the stability of its parameters against small changes in the geometrical set-up has been estimated using the model calculation code DCM/CEM from Dubna. The dimensio ns of the system are 200 cm in diameter and 170 cm in length and it supplie s a thermal power of 900 MW with k(eff) = 0.943, using a 20 mA proton beam of an energy of 1 GeV. Considering the thermal --> electricity power and el ectricity --> beam power conversion efficiencies, the electric power amplif ication is about 8. Energy deposition and neutron energy distribution in th e fusion core are also studied. Some properties as the heat production per unit volume, are rather similar to modern fast breeders. The neutron multip lication factor k(eff) is very sensitive to small changes in the geometrica l set-up within the fission core.