Mathematical model of the point kinetic equations of a fast reactor in LabVIEW

The reactor point kinetics equations have been subjected to intense research in an effort to find simple yet accurate numerical solution methods. Many solution techniques have been presented on the point kinetics equations with varying degrees of complexity including Power Series Solutions, CORE, PCA, Ganapol and Taylor series methods. In this paper, fast and simple algorithms were developed based on the first and second order Taylor series expansion and simulated in LabVIEW to solve the Reactor Point Kinetics. Simulations for a fast reactor are presented. At 1× 10-8 s the neutron population was 1.000220 neutrons / cm3, at 1× 10-2 s it was 2.007681 neutrons / cm3 and at 1× 10-1 s it was 2.075317 neutrons / cm3. Keywords: reactor point kinetics equations, taylor series approximations, neutron population density, fast reacto

LabVIEW model of the Half- Power Beam Width of the Kutunse Antenna

A LabVIEW model to calculate the Half Power Beam Width of the Kutunse antenna was developed. The Kutunse antenna as part of the AVN under the SKA is to do VLBI, to study masers and to train Ghanaians in Astronomy. The model produced an easy-to-use approach in calculating the Half Power Beam Width over the operating frequency range of 5.0 to 6.7 GHz of the antenna. The results indicated an angular width of 0.002249091 radians at 5 GHz and 0.001679611 radians at 6.7 GHz. The sensitive angular width at 6.7 GHz suitable for studying masers is 0.001679611 radians. This model is useful in providing a quick guide to scientists, engineers, technicians and students in using the radio telescope at Kutunse, Ghana. Keywords: Half power beam width, LabVIEW, Frequency, Kutunse, African VLBI Network (AVN

Recent updates on the Maser Monitoring Organisation

The Maser Monitoring Organisation (M2O) is a research community of telescope operators, astronomy researchers and maser theoreticians pursuing a joint goal of reaching a deeper understanding of maser emission and exploring its variety of uses as tracers of astrophysical events. These proceedings detail the origin, motivations and current status of the M2O, as was introduced at the 2021 EVN symposium