The cross-section data from neutron activation experiments on niobium in the NPI p-7Li quasi-monoenergetic neutron field

The reaction of protons on 7Li target produces the high-energy quasi- monoenergetic neutron spectrum with the tail to lower energies. Proton energies of 19.8, 25.1, 27.6, 30.1, 32.6, 35.0 and 37.4 MeV were used to obtain quasi-monoenergetic neutrons with energies of 18, 21.6, 24.8, 27.6, 30.3, 32.9 and 35.6 MeV, respectively. Nb cross-section data for neutron energies higher than 22.5 MeV do not exist in the literature. Nb is the important material for fusion applications (IFMIF) as well. The variable-energy proton beam of NPI cyclotron is utilized for the production of neutron field using thin lithium target. The carbon backing serves as the beam stopper. The system permits to produce neutron flux density about 109  n/cm2/s in peak at 30 MeV neutron energy. The niobium foils of 15 mm in diameter and approx. 0.75 g weight were activated. The nuclear spectroscopy methods with HPGe detector technique were used to obtain the activities of produced isotopes. The large set of neutron energies used in the experiment allows us to make the complex study of the cross-section values. The reactions (n,2n), (n,3n), (n,4n), (n,He3), (n,α) and (n,2nα) are studied. The cross-sections data of the (n,4n) and (n,2nα) are obtained for the first time. The cross-sections of (n,2n) and (n,α) reactions for higher neutron energies are strongly influenced by low energy tail of neutron spectra. This effect is discussed. The results are compared with the EAF-2007 library

The p +

The cyclotron driven fast quasi-monoenergetic neutron source based on the p+ 9Be (thin target) reaction was studied at the proton energy around 30 MeV Due to higher melting point of Be, the p+ 9Be(thin), reaction could be considered as an alternative to the most used p+Li(thin) neutron source, providing a similar quasi-monoenergetic neutron spectrum at significantly higher neutron output owing to advance in higher incident proton beam current. The neutron spectrum measured by the time-of-flight method agrees with other experimental data and indicates dominant contribution of ground and first excited states leading to only two peaks, separated by some 2–3 MeV, in the p+thin 9Be neutron spectrum

The p + 9Be(thin target) reaction as a source of quasi-monoenergetic neutrons

The cyclotron driven fast quasi-monoenergetic neutron source based on the p+ 9Be (thin target) reaction was studied at the proton energy around 30 MeV Due to higher melting point of Be, the p+ 9Be(thin), reaction could be considered as an alternative to the most used p+Li(thin) neutron source, providing a similar quasi-monoenergetic neutron spectrum at significantly higher neutron output owing to advance in higher incident proton beam current. The neutron spectrum measured by the time-of-flight method agrees with other experimental data and indicates dominant contribution of ground and first excited states leading to only two peaks, separated by some 2–3 MeV, in the p+thin 9Be neutron spectrum

Spectral flux of the p-7Li(C) Q-M neutron source measured by proton recoil telescope

The cyclotron-based fast neutron source at NPI produces mono-energetic neutron fields up to 35 MeV neutron energy using the p + 7Li(carbon backing) reactions. To be applied for activation cross-section measurements, not only the intensity of neutron peak, but also the contribution of low-energy continuum in the spectra must be well determined. Simulations of the spectral flux from present source at a position of irradiated samples were performed using CYRIC TOF-data validated in the present work against LA150h by calculations with the transport Monte Carlo code MCNPX. Simulated spectra were tested by absolute measurements using a proton-recoil telescope technique. The recoil-proton spectrometer consisted of a shielded scattering chamber with polyethylene and carbon radiators and the ΔE1-ΔE2-E telescope of silicon-surface detectors located to the neutron beam axis at 45° in the laboratory system. Si-detectors were handled by usual data acquisition system. Dead-time – and pulse-overlap losses of events were determined from the count rate of pulse generator registered during duty cycle of accelerator operation. The proton beam charge and data were taken in the list mode for later replay and analysis. The calculations for 7Li(p,n) and 12C(p,n) reactions reasonably reproduce CYRIC TOF neutron source spectra. The influence of neutron source set-up (proton beam dimensions, 7Li-foil, carbon stopper, cooling medium, target support/chamber and the geometry-arrangement of irradiated sample) on the spectral flux is discussed in details

Spectral flux of the p- 7

The cyclotron-based fast neutron source at NPI produces mono-energetic neutron fields up to 35 MeV neutron energy using the p + 7Li(carbon backing) reactions. To be applied for activation cross-section measurements, not only the intensity of neutron peak, but also the contribution of low-energy continuum in the spectra must be well determined. Simulations of the spectral flux from present source at a position of irradiated samples were performed using CYRIC TOF-data validated in the present work against LA150h by calculations with the transport Monte Carlo code MCNPX. Simulated spectra were tested by absolute measurements using a proton-recoil telescope technique. The recoil-proton spectrometer consisted of a shielded scattering chamber with polyethylene and carbon radiators and the ΔE1-ΔE2-E telescope of silicon-surface detectors located to the neutron beam axis at 45° in the laboratory system. Si-detectors were handled by usual data acquisition system. Dead-time – and pulse-overlap losses of events were determined from the count rate of pulse generator registered during duty cycle of accelerator operation. The proton beam charge and data were taken in the list mode for later replay and analysis. The calculations for 7Li(p,n) and 12C(p,n) reactions reasonably reproduce CYRIC TOF neutron source spectra. The influence of neutron source set-up (proton beam dimensions, 7Li-foil, carbon stopper, cooling medium, target support/chamber and the geometry-arrangement of irradiated sample) on the spectral flux is discussed in details

65Cu(d,p)66Cu excitation function at deuteron energies up to 20 MeV

The proton and deuteron induced reactions have a great interest for the assessment of induced radioactivity of accelerator components. Such data are needed for estimation of the potential radiation hazard from the accelerating cavities and beam transport elements. Continuing previous irradiation experiments on copper, we provided two short run to obtain cross-section data for 65Cu(d, p)66Cu reaction. We carried out irradiation experiments with the variable-energy cyclotron U-120M of the Nuclear Physics Institute Řež. The stacked-foil technique was utilized. Because of a relatively short half life (T1/2 = 5, 120  min) and a strong annihilation peak, we placed the 1 cm Pb plate between the irradiated sample and the gamma-ray detector to reduce the dead time. The absolute values of cross-sections were calculated from the induced activities measured by the calibrated HPGe detector. The comparison of present results with data of other authors and prediction of different libraries and model calculation is discussed