Mathematical model of a periodic pulsed reactor

Periodic pulsed reactors are unique research neutron sources used for experiments in solid state physics, nuclear physics, and radiation research. A reactor of this type represents a dynamic system with multiple feedback loops. Longstanding operation of the BR-2M reactor and its predecessors IBR‑2 and IBR-30 observe unstable pulse dynamics under certain conditions. Several physical feedback phenomena that can lead to unstable dynamics have been discovered and described. In this regard, a software package is being developed to simulate the operation of the reactor taking into account known physical processes, design parameters, and materials of the core in order to study the characteristics of an operating periodic pulsed reactor and design an advanced neutron source. The paper presents a description of the model and results of calculating reactor dynamics.