Background: The most significant source of background in direct dark matter
searches are neutrons that scatter elastically from nuclei in the detector's
sensitive volume. Experimental data for the elastic scattering cross section of
neutrons from argon and neon, which are target materials of interest to the
dark matter community, were previously unavailable. Purpose: Measure the
differential cross section for elastic scattering of neutrons from argon and
neon in the energy range relevant to backgrounds from (alpha,n) reactions in
direct dark matter searches. Method: Cross-section data were taken at the
Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) using the neutron
time-of-flight technique. These data were fit using the spherical optical
model. Results: The differential cross section for elastic scatting of neutrons
from neon at 5.0 and 8.0 MeV and argon at 6.0 MeV was measured. Optical-model
parameters for the elastic scattering reactions were determined from the best
fit to these data. The total elastic scattering cross section for neon was
found to differ by 6% at 5.0 MeV and 13% at 8.0 MeV from global optical-model
predictions. Compared to a local optical-model for 40Ar, the elastic scattering
cross section was found to differ from the data by 8% at 6.0 MeV. Conclusions:
These new data are important for improving Monte-Carlo simulations and
background estimates for direct dark matter searches and for benchmarking
optical models of neutron elastic scattering from these nuclei
