Use of a priori information for obtaining the inverse solution of the equation of point kinetics.

Abstract  The method of inverse solution of the equation of point kinetics is often used for measuring reactivity. The conventional formulations of this method give an approach based on interval estimates of the parameters in the equation; this makes it possible to take into account more adequately and methodologically correctly the a priori existing information and measurements of the neutron flux. Aside from reactivity, the method makes it possible to refine the parameters in the kinetic equation, which are associated with the source, delayed-neutron yield, and prompt-neutron lifetime. An approximate method of determining the covariation matrix of a more accurate estimate for the case of a small error in the a priori data and measurements is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]