Study of the 15N(p,n)15O reaction as a monoenergetic neutron source for the measurement of differential scattering cross sections

TL;DR

This study evaluates the 15N(p,n) reaction as a potential monoenergetic neutron source for measuring differential scattering cross sections, focusing on its properties, optimal conditions, and successful application in various target materials.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of differential and integral cross sections for the 15N(p,n) reaction, demonstrating its suitability as a neutron source in the 2-5 MeV range.

Findings

The 15N(p,n) reaction can produce monoenergetic neutrons up to 5.7 MeV.

Optimal target conditions for neutron production were identified.

The reaction has been successfully used to measure scattering cross sections for Pb, Bi, and Ta.

Abstract

The 15N(p,n) reaction is a promising candidate for the production of monoenergetic neutrons with energies of up to 5.7 MeV at the facilities where the T(p,n)3He reaction cannot be used. The characteristic properties of this reaction were studied focusing on its suitability as a source of monoenergetic neutrons for the measurement of differential scattering cross sections in the neutron energy range of 2 MeV to 5 MeV. For this purpose differential and integral cross sections were measured and the choice of optimum target conditions was investigated. The reaction has already been used successfully to measure of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for natPb in the energy range from 2 MeV to 4 MeV and for 209Bi and 181Ta at 4 MeV.