The production of fast neutrons (1 MeV - 1 GeV) in high energy muon-nucleus
interactions is poorly understood, yet it is fundamental to the understanding
of the background in many underground experiments. The aim of the present
experiment (CERN NA55) was to measure spallation neutrons produced by 190 GeV/c
muons scattering on carbon, copper and lead targets. We have investigated the
energy spectrum and angular distribution of spallation neutrons, and we report
the result of our measurement of the neutron production differential cross
section.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures ep
