The detection of neutron clusters

A new approach to the production and detection of bound neutron clusters is presented. The technique is based on the breakup of beams of very neutron-rich nuclei and the subsequent detection of the recoiling proton in a liquid scintillator. The method has been tested in the breakup of 11Li, 14Be and 15B beams by a C target. Some 6 events were observed that exhibit the characteristics of a multineutron cluster liberated in the breakup of 14Be, most probably in the channel 10Be+4n. The various backgrounds that may mimic such a signal are discussed in detail.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, LPCC 01-1