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[[Boron-11]] can be added to the fuel; it emits neutrons by the (α,n) reaction to [[nitrogen-14]]. [[Deuterium]] in heavy water emits neutrons by (γ,n) reaction to <sup>1</sup>H.<ref name="tpub"/>
A [[plutonium-238]]/beryllium primary source can be utilized. As Pu-238 would undergo neutron capture and transmutation when subjected to intense [[thermal neutron]] flux, which would dramatically shorten the source lifetime, the sources can be either affixed to some [[control rod]] and removed from the reactor when it is powered, or clad in a [[cadmium]] alloy, which is opaque for the thermal neutrons but transparent for the [[fast neutron]]s produced by the source.<ref name="pat1"/>
Some neutron sources also serve as additional sources of [[delayed neutron]]s; these serve to dampen the response rate of reactor power to control rods and power transients, allowing safer and more stable operation.
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