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Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by Abekkus on Sunday September 24, 2017 @10:57AM (#15324940)
Is there a static substance that reflects loose neutrons? I thought that the choices for a substance were either to let the neutron pass through, or to absorb the neutron
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by dasmoth on Sunday September 24, 2017 @11:06AM (#15324973)
Yes [1]. Beryllium is, I believe, the material of choice (although comes with its own problems, e.g. stupidly toxic dust)

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_reflector

Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by userbinator on Sunday September 24, 2017 @01:39PM (#15325653)
If you're already working with plutonium, whose dust is also very, very toxic (in addition to being radioactive), the additional danger of beryllium doesn't seem so great in comparison.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by cjsuk on Sunday September 24, 2017 @02:10PM (#15325782)
I routinely handled beryllium for a couple of years as it is present in certain electronic RF power amplifiers. It’s perfectly safe in solid form. If you drill it or smash it, a different matter!

Plutonium, not so much.

Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by eloff on Sunday September 24, 2017 @05:19PM (#15326557)
I knew a software engineer who made a lot of money in a startup and bought himself an ultralight bike of titanium and beryllium. They ceased the beryllium parts at the Canadian border and I don't think he ever managed to get them released to him.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by madengr on Sunday September 24, 2017 @08:06PM (#15327193)
I think only about 2% of the population is sensitive to beryllium. I was in a beryllium monitoring program (yearly blood tests) at work. A few coworkers are sensitive, one getting really sick.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by badmin_ on Sunday September 24, 2017 @03:56PM (#15326218)
Beryllium's also used as a neutron multiplier.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by soVeryTired on Sunday September 24, 2017 @12:41PM (#15325410)
I remember reading somewhere that water slows neutrons down enough to allow for a much lower critical mass.

I think it's in mentioned in Richard Feynman's account of his time in Loa Alamos in 'Surely you're joking Mr Feynman'.

Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by wereHamster on Sunday September 24, 2017 @03:32PM (#15326117)
Not just any water, only https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water has that property.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by philipkglass on Sunday September 24, 2017 @04:10PM (#15326293)
Heavy water is more effective, but light (ordinary) water moderates neutrons too. That's how light water reactors work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-water_reactor
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by valuearb on Sunday September 24, 2017 @12:26PM (#15325325)
google “demon core” for los alamos beryllium reflector hijinks gone awry.
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by rzzzt on Sunday September 24, 2017 @01:11PM (#15325532)
Moderators reflect and slow down neutrons so you get a controlled reaction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_moderator
Re:‘Criticality safety event’ occurred at LANL’s plutonium f... by rleigh on Sunday September 24, 2017 @11:12AM (#15324990)
Beryllium, amongst others.