Neutron Flux at the Gran Sasso Underground LaboratoryRevisited

TL;DR

This paper revisits the neutron flux at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory through calculations and simulations, providing detailed spectrum data and analyzing variability due to environmental factors, to better understand background radiation for experiments.

Contribution

It offers an independent computational check on existing experimental neutron flux data and details how environmental water content affects flux variability.

Findings

Neutron flux spectrum characterized at Gran Sasso

Flux variability linked to water content changes

Computational results align with some experimental data

Abstract

The neutron flux induced by radioactivity at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory is revisited. We have performed calculations and Monte Carlo simulations; the results offer an independent check to the available experimental data reported by different authors, which vary rather widely. This study gives detailed information on the expected spectrum and on the variability of the neutron flux due to possible variations of the water content of the environment.