Neutron Production and Zero Degree Calorimeter Acceptance at LHC

TL;DR

This paper models neutron production at the LHC to estimate detector acceptance for luminosity measurement, using a simple parametrization aligned with existing data, and compares predictions with experimental results.

Contribution

Introduces a straightforward model for neutron production cross sections at the LHC based on existing data, aiding in detector acceptance calculations.

Findings

Calculated rates agree with RHIC data

Model provides estimates for LHC energies

Supports luminosity measurement efforts

Abstract

We calculate cross sections for the far forward LHC detectors to be used for luminosity measurement. A simple model, based on a parametrization of available inclusive neutron data and the assumption that 2 arm rates in non-diffractive events are uncorrelated, is introduced. The calculated rates are in reasonable agreement with preliminary data from RHIC and we are now comparing with rates at 3 LHC energies.