# Radiogenic Neutron Yield Calculations for Low-Background Experiments

## TL;DR

This paper introduces NeuCBOT, a new tool for calculating radiogenic neutron yields from detector materials, aiding in the reduction of background noise in dark matter experiments.

## Contribution

The paper presents NeuCBOT, a novel computational tool for neutron yield calculations, and compares its results with existing data and methods.

## Key findings

- NeuCBOT provides reliable neutron yield estimates.
- Comparison shows NeuCBOT aligns well with existing data.
- The tool enhances background modeling for low-background experiments.

## Abstract

Nuclear recoil backgrounds are one of the most dangerous backgrounds for many dark matter experiments. A primary source of nuclear recoils is radiogenic neutrons produced in the detector material itself. These neutrons result from fission and $(\alpha,n)$ reactions originating from uranium and thorium contamination. In this paper, we discuss neutron yields from these sources. We compile a list of $(\alpha,n)$ yields for many materials common in low-background detectors, calculated using NeuCBOT, a new tool introduced in this paper, available at https://github.com/shawest/neucbot. These calculations are compared to computations made using data compilations and SOURCES-4A