Study of (n,α) reactions of interest for nuclear reactors: the case of 19^{19}F(n,α)16^{16}N with SCALP detector

International audienceThe 19 F(n,α)16 N cross section is of great interest for the development of the next generation IV reactors that could potentially use molten fluoride salts. Significant differences (up to a factor of 3) have been observed for this nucleus regarding the (n,α) channel. In view of improving our knowledge on this (n,α) reactions, the GrACE group (Groupe Aval du Cycle Electronucl´eaire) of the LPC Caen has developed a new detector named SCALP (Scintillating ionization Chamber for ALPha particle detection in neutron induced reactions). This paper deals with the first experiment carried out with this brand new detector at the new NFS facility (GANIL, Caen, France). After discussing the needs for new measurments of the 19 F(n,α)16 N reaction, the operating procedure of the SCALP detector will be presented, as well as the experiments that have been conducted using it. Furthermore, insights into the data acquired during our experiment, as well as the ongoing data processing and associated multi-channel analysis, will be provided

Monte Carlo MSM correction factors for control rod worth estimates in subcritical and near-critical fast neutron reactors

The GUINEVERE project was launched in 2006, within the 6th Euratom Framework Program IP-EUROTRANS, in order to study the feasibility of transmutation in Accelerator Driven subcritical Systems (ADS). This zero-power facility hosted at the SCK·CEN site in Mol (Belgium) couples the fast subcritical lead reactor VENUS-F with an external neutron source provided by interaction of deuterons delivered by the GENEPI-3C accelerator and a tritiated target located at the reactor core center. In order to test on-line subcriticality monitoring techniques, the reactivity of all the VENUS-F configurations used must be known beforehand to serve as benchmark values. That is why the Modified Source Multiplication Method (MSM) is under consideration to estimate the reactivity worth of the control rods when the reactor is largely subcritical as well as near-critical. The MSM method appears to be a technique well adapted to measure control rod worth over a large range of subcriticality levels. The MSM factors which are required to account for spatial effects in the reactor can be successfully calculated using a Monte Carlo neutron transport code

High-energy two-neutron removal from Be10

A kinetically complete measurement of the C12(Be10, α+α+n) and (Be10, α+α) reactions has been performed at a beam energy of 30 MeV/nucleon. The charged beam velocity particles were detected in an array of Si-CsI detectors placed at zero degrees, and the neutrons in an 81-element neutron array. The coincident detection of the final-state particles, produced in the breakup of Be10, allowed the reconstruction of the excitation energy in the Be8 and Be9 systems. States in Be8 were identified, in particular the ground and first-excited states; and in Be9, states at 1.68, 2.43, and (2.78, 3.05) MeV were observed. The population of these levels, in particular the 2.43 MeV 5/2- level, suggests that collective excitations play an important role in the neutron removal process. Distorted wave Born approximation and Glauber-type calculations have been used to model the direct neutron removal from the Be10 ground state and the two-step removal via inelastic excitations of the Be10(2+) and Be9(5/2-) excited states. © 2005 The American Physical Society.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Neutron removal and cluster breakup of 14B and 14Be

Measurements of the neutron removal and cluster breakup cross sections for the neutron-rich nuclei 14Be and 14B have been performed at 34.4 and 40.8 MeV/nucleon, respectively. Enhancement of the first chance cluster breakup cross section for 14Be compared to that of 14B provides evidence for a well-developed He cluster structure of the ground state of 14Be. Measurements of both the cross sections and decay-particle velocities suggest that multistep processes play an important role in the excitation and decay of both 14B and 14Be.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Evidence of a (1d 5/2) 2 component to the 12Be ground state

Data have been obtained on exclusive single neutron knockout cross sections from 12Be to study its ground state structure. The cross sections for the production of 11Be in its ground state (1/2 +) and first excited state (0.32 MeV, 1/2 -) have previously been measured, indicating a strong (2s 1 2) 2 component to the 12Be ground state. In the present experiment, performed at the GANIL laboratory, cross sections for the first (0.32 MeV, 1/2 -) and second (1.78 MeV, 5/2 +, unbound) excited states in 11Be were measured, which gives information on the admixture of (1p 1 2) 2 and (1d 5 2) 2 components in the ground state of 12Be. A fragmentation beam of 12Be of ∼10000 pps (95% pure) was incident on a carbon target at 41 MeV/u. The beam particles were tracked onto the target, and their energies were measured event-by-event. The beam-like residues were measured in a position sensitive telescope mounted at zero degrees, and neutrons were measured in the DéMoN array. The 1/2 - state of 11Be was identified by measuring coincident 320 keV γ-rays, using four NaI detectors. Full kinematic reconstruction of unbound states in 11Be was performed using coincident neutrons and 10Be ions. Detailed simulations were performed in order to interpret the data, and spectroscopic factors were calculated, using preliminary single particle removal cross sections calculated using a Glauber model. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.SCOPUS: cp.pinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Experimental evidence of a ν(1d5/2)2 component to the 12Be ground state

Data have been obtained on exclusive single neutron knockout cross sections from 12Be to study its ground state structure. Preliminary cross sections for the first (0.32 MeV, 1/2-) and second (1.78 MeV, 5/2+, unbound) excited states in 11Be have been obtained, giving evidence of significant admixtures of both ν(1p1/2) 2 and ν(1d5/2)2 configurations in the ground state of 12Be. © Società Italiana di Fisica / Springer-Verlag 2005.SCOPUS: cp.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe