MCNP6 Simulation of Quasi-Monoenergetic 7Li(p,n) Neutron Sources below 150 MeV

TL;DR

This study evaluates MCNP6's ability to simulate quasi-monoenergetic neutron sources from proton interactions with 7Li targets below 150 MeV, finding that using the LANL data library yields accurate results.

Contribution

It demonstrates that MCNP6 with the LANL data library accurately simulates neutron production from p + 7Li reactions below 150 MeV, outperforming other event generators.

Findings

MCNP6 with LANL data library matches experimental neutron spectra.

Event generators like Bertini+Dresner and CEM03.03 are less accurate.

Simulations are reliable for proton energies below 150 MeV.

Abstract

The applicability of MCNP6 to simulate quasi-monoenergetic neutron sources from interactions of proton beams with energies below 150 MeV on thick 7Li targets have been studied. Neutron spectra at zero degrees from a 2-mm 7Li layer backed by a 12-mm carbon beam stopper in an Al flange bombarded with protons of 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 MeV have been calculated with MCNP6 using the recent Los Alamos data library as well as using the Bertini+Dresner and CEM03.03 event generators. A comparison with the experimental neutron spectra shows that the event generators do not do well in describing such reactions, while MCNP6 using the LANL data library simulates production of neutrons from p + 7Li in good agreement with the measured data.