Possibilities of utilizing photonuclear reactions to obtain energy in fission processes

To estimate the possibility of initiating nuclear chain reactions in subcritical assemblies by means of intense electron beams, we have calculated the neutrons yield from an $^{238}$U target as a result of the reactions $(\gamma,n)$, $(\gamma,2n)$ and $(\gamma,f)$ initiated by electron beams with energies of 10 and 30 MeV at a current of 100 mA. We have also calculated the ratio of the energy released as a result of the reaction $(\gamma,f)$ to the energy of the initial electron beam. We have demonstrated that the irradiation of the $^{238}$U target gives rise to neutron fluxes whose intensity is comparable to that of the fluxes in nuclear reactors.