Selective data analysis for diamond detectors in neutron fields

Detectors based on synthetic chemical vapor deposition diamond gain importance in various neutron applications. The superior thermal robustness and the excellent radiation hardness of diamond as well as its excellent electronic properties make this material uniquely suited for rough environments, such as nuclear fission and fusion reactors. The intrinsic electronic properties of single-crystal diamond sensors allow distinguishing various interactions in the detector. This can be used to successfully suppress background of γ-rays and charged particles in different neutron experiments, such as neutron flux measurements in thermal nuclear reactors or cross-section measurements in fast neutron fields. A novel technique of distinguishing background reactions in neutron experiments with diamond detectors will be presented. A proof of principle will be given on the basis of experimental results in thermal and fast neutron fields

Selective data analysis for diamond detectors in neutron fields

Detectors based on synthetic chemical vapor deposition diamond gain importance in various neutron applications. The superior thermal robustness and the excellent radiation hardness of diamond as well as its excellent electronic properties make this material uniquely suited for rough environments, such as nuclear fission and fusion reactors. The intrinsic electronic properties of single-crystal diamond sensors allow distinguishing various interactions in the detector. This can be used to successfully suppress background of γ-rays and charged particles in different neutron experiments, such as neutron flux measurements in thermal nuclear reactors or cross-section measurements in fast neutron fields. A novel technique of distinguishing background reactions in neutron experiments with diamond detectors will be presented. A proof of principle will be given on the basis of experimental results in thermal and fast neutron fields

Modeling the response of a diamond detector in the zero power reactor CROCUS

The present manuscript documents the development of a practical calculation scheme to model the response of a diamond detector in the mixed (neutron and gamma) radiation field of the CROCUS experimental reactor at EPFL. The model is shown to perform reasonably well in terms of energy spectra shapes for the limited amounts of irradiations considered; the relative magnitude of the neutron and gamma contributions to the detector output is, however, not properly captured. The gamma contribution is underestimated by a factor of four if the neutron contribution is correctly captured. A sensitivity study to three parameters (the azimuthal position of the detector, the magnitude of the neutron and gamma sources, and the threshold voltage used in the detector) is also carried out to analyze the effect of modeling assumptions and experimental choices on the results. Then, a detailed analysis of the computational results is carried out to provide quantitative information about the response of a diamond detector in a mixed radiation field. It is shown that the low-energy interactions are mainly produced by gamma interactions; that the high energy interactions are generated by proton recoil interactions; and that 60% of the recorded neutron interactions are produced by thermal neutron captures in Li-6, while the rest come from scattering interactions with fast neutrons. Finally, it is demonstrated that considering some of the effects of the electronics on the pulses (RC time constant) is required to reproduce the trends observed in the experimental results, especially the increased detection rate within the diamond crystal

Destruction of the cosmic γ-ray emitter 26Al in massive stars: study of the key 26Al(n,p) reaction

The 26Al(n,p)26Mg reaction is the key reaction impacting on the abundances of the cosmic γ-ray emitter 26Al produced in massive stars and impacts on the potential pollution of the early solar system with 26Al by asymptotic giant branch stars. We performed a measurement of the 26Al(n,p)26Mg cross section at the high-flux beam line EAR-2 at the n_TOF facility (CERN). We report resonance strengths for eleven resonances, nine being measured for the first time, while there is only one previous measurement for the other two. Our resonance strengths are significantly lower than the only previous values available. Our cross-section data range to 150 keV neutron energy, which is sufficient for a reliable determination of astrophysical reactivities up to 0.5 GK stellar temperature

The CERN n_TOF facility: a unique tool for nuclear data measurement

he study of the resonant structures in neutron-nucleus cross-sections, and therefore of the compound-nucleus reaction mechanism, requires spectroscopic measurements to determine with high accuracy the energy of the neutron interacting with the material under study. To this purpose, the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF has been operating since 2001 at CERN. Its characteristics, such as the high intensity instantaneous neutron flux, the wide energy range from thermal to few GeV, and the very good energy resolution, are perfectly suited to perform high-quality measurements of neutron-induced reaction cross sections. The precise and accurate knowledge of these cross sections plays a fundamental role in nuclear technologies, nuclear astrophysics and nuclear physics. Two different measuring stations are available at the n_TOF facility, called EAR1 and EAR2, with different characteristics of intensity of the neutron flux and energy resolution. These experimental areas, combined with advanced detection systems lead to a great flexibility in performing challenging measurement of high precision and accuracy, and allow the investigation isotopes with very low cross sections, or available only in small quantities, or with very high specific activity. The characteristics and performances of the two experimental areas of the n_TOF facility will be presented, together with the most important measurements performed to date and their physics case. In addition, the significant upcoming measurements will be introduced

First measurement of 72Ge(n,γ) at n_TOF

The slow neutron capture process (s-process) is responsible for producing about half of the elemental abundances heavier than iron in the universe. Neutron capture cross sections on stable isotopes are a key nuclear physics input for s-process studies. The 72Ge(n, γ) cross section has an important influence on production of isotopes between Ge and Zr during s-process in massive stars and therefore experimental data are urgently required. 72Ge(n, γ) was measured at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF (CERN) for the first time at stellar energies. The measurement was performed using an enriched 72GeO2 sample at a flight path of 185m with a set of liquid scintillation detectors (C6D6). The motivation, experiment and current status of the data analysis are reported

The 33S(n,α)30Si cross section measurement at n_TOF-EAR2 (CERN): from 0.01 eV to the resonance region

The 33S(n,α)30Si cross section measurement, using 10B(n,α) as reference, at the n_TOF Experimental Area 2 (EAR2) facility at CERN is presented. Data from 0.01 eV to 100 keV are provided and, for the first time, the cross section is measured in the range from 0.01 eV to 10 keV. These data may be used for a future evaluation of the cross section because present evaluations exhibit large discrepancies. The 33S(n,α)30Si reaction is of interest in medical physics because of its possible use as a cooperative target to boron in Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT)

7Be(n,α) and 7Be(n,p) cross-section measurement for the cosmological lithium problem at the n_TOF facility at CERN

The Cosmological Lithium Problem refers to the large discrepancy between the abundance of primordial 7Li predicted by the standard theory of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the value inferred from the so-called “Spite plateau” in halo stars. A possible explanation for this longstanding puzzle in Nuclear Astrophysics is related to the incorrect estimation of the destruction rate of 7Be, which is responsible for the production of 95% of primordial Lithium. While charged-particle induced reactions have mostly been ruled out, data on the 7Be(n,α) and 7Be(n,p) reactions are scarce or completely missing, so that a large uncertainty still affects the abundance of 7Li predicted by the standard theory of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. Both reactions have been measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN, providing for the first time data in a wide neutron energy range

The Nuclear Astrophysics program at n_TOF (CERN)

An important experimental program on Nuclear Astrophysics is being carried out at the n_TOF since several years, in order to address the still open issues in stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis. Several neutron capture reactions relevant to s-process nucleosynthesis have been measured so far, some of which on important branching point radioisotopes. Furthermore, the construction of a second experimental area has recently opened the way to challenging measurements of (n, charged particle) reactions on isotopes of short half-life. The Nuclear Astrophysics program of the n_TOF Collaboration is here described, with emphasis on recent results relevant for stellar nucleosynthesis, stellar neutron sources and primordial nucleosynthesis