Fast neutron scattering on Gallium target at 14.8 MeV

TL;DR

This study benchmarks evaluated nuclear data libraries for 14.8 MeV neutron scattering on Gallium, revealing underestimations in inelastic contributions and demonstrating Talys simulations' improved accuracy.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of nuclear data libraries against experimental results and introduces Talys simulations for better modeling of inelastic scattering.

Findings

MCNP-4C simulations with evaluated libraries generally agree with experiments

All libraries underestimate inelastic scattering around 10-13 MeV

Talys simulations reproduce experimental spectra well across the energy range

Abstract

Benchmarking of evaluated nuclear data libraries was performed for $\sim 14.8$ MeV neutrons on Gallium targets. The experiments were performed at China Institute of Atomic Energy(CIAE). Solid samples of natural Gallium (3.2 cm and 6.4 cm thick) were bombarded by $\sim 14.8$ MeV neutrons and leakage neutron energy spectra were measured at 60$^{\circ}$ and 120$^{\circ}$. The measured spectra are rather well reproduced by MCNP-4C simulations with the CENDL-3.1, ENDF/B-VII and JENDL-4.0 evaluated nuclear data libraries, except for the inelastic contributions around $E_{n} = 10-13$ MeV. All three libraries significantly underestimate the inelastic contributions. The inelastic contributions are further studied, using the Talys simulation code and the experimental spectra are reproduced reasonably well in the whole energy range by the Talys calculation, including the inelastic contributions.