A Mathematical Realization of Entropy through Neutron Slowing Down

Entropy (Basel). 2018 Mar 28;20(4):233. doi: 10.3390/e20040233.

Abstract

The slowing down equation for elastic scattering of neutrons in an infinite homogeneous medium is solved analytically by decomposing the neutron energy spectrum into collision intervals. Since scattering physically smooths energy distributions by redistributing neutron energy uniformly, it is informative to observe how mathematics accommodates the scattering process, which increases entropy through disorder.

Keywords: elastic scattering; entropy; neutron slowing down.