CTOF measurements and Monte Carlo analyses of neutron spectra for the backward direction from a lead target irradiated with 200 to 1000 MeV proton

TL;DR

This study employs a calorimetric-time-of-flight technique to measure neutron spectra at a backward angle from a lead target irradiated with protons of 200-1000 MeV, and compares results with multiple simulation codes.

Contribution

It provides high-precision neutron spectrum measurements at backward angles and evaluates the accuracy of various Monte Carlo transport codes against experimental data.

Findings

Neutron spectra measured at 175° show good agreement with some simulation codes.

Discrepancies observed between measured and simulated spectra at certain energies.

Data enhances understanding of neutron production and transport in high-energy proton-irradiated lead targets.

Abstract

A calorimetric-time-of-flight (CTOF) technique was used for real-time, high-precision measurement of neutron spectrum at an angle of 175 degrees from the initial proton beam direction, which hits a face plane of a cylindrical lead target of 20 cm in diameter and 25 cm thick. A comparison was performed between the neutron spectra predicted by the MARS, RTS&T, MCNP6, and the MCNPX 2.6.0 transport codes and that measured for 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 MeV protons