322 Book reviews

parameters, describe the important chemical and metallurgical problems and discuss the physics of heat distribution and activation of coolants etc.

There is also much information on many reactor variants which have been considered and on component design and development.

This is not a book for the student as the presentation is almost entirely directed to detailed consideration of reactor types and the treatment assumes an appreciation of the basic reactor engineering and physics. It is, however, a most valuable compilation of data, thinking, and tech- nology for an individual or a group who wish to turn their attention to a particular class of reactor.

R. F. J.

Neutron Cross-Sections. D. J. HUGHES and J. A. HARVEY. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, Pp. 328. $12.00.

THE book is divided into two main sections. In the first, a table of thermal-neutron cross-sections is given and in the second, a series of graphs are presented, showing the variation of neutron cross- sections as a function of neutron energy. In addition a table of resonance parameters is included and also a number of angular distribution curves.

This is an extremely valuable reference book for anyone working in the field of neutron physics. In fact, it constitutes the second edition of AECU- which was published in May 1952, and comparison between the two volumes indicates the considerable advances made in neutron spectro- scopy during this period. It should be pointed out, however, that some of the data on uranium and plutonium-in particular the fission cross-section curves-is now out of date. The more detailed information now available on these elements was published by the same authors at the Geneva Conference in August 1955.

R. R.