Production and measurement of stellar neutron spectrum at 30 keV

TL;DR

This paper reports the measurement of a stellar-like neutron spectrum at 30 keV produced via the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction, using time-of-flight spectrometry to simulate conditions relevant for astrophysical processes.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of a Maxwellian-like neutron spectrum at 30 keV from the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction, useful for astrophysical modeling.

Findings

Neutron spectrum closely resembles a Maxwellian at 30 keV

Proton beam shaped to Gaussian distribution near threshold

Spectrum measured via time-of-flight spectrometry

Abstract

In the present experiment we measure the forward-emitted angle-integrated neutron spectrum of the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction via time-of-flight neutron spectrometry. The proton beam is shaped to a Gaussian-like distribution with energies close to the reaction threshold upstream the thick lithium target. The angle-integrated neutron spectrum resembles a Maxwellian or stellar neutron spectrum at kT=30 keV.