An improved theoretical method for determining the mean D-T neutron energies in large solid angle sample

Abstract

ABSTRACT Neutron energy of deuterium-tritium (D-T) generator plays an important role for the application of nuclear energy and nuclear technology. Based on the deuterium energy losing in tritiated titanium (T-Ti) target and differential cross sections of D-T reaction, an improved theoretical formula for calculating the mean neutron energy irradiating a large solid angle sample was proposed. Besides that, the mean neutron energy was discussed under the actual experimental conditions. The results were compared to the reported ratio values of 90Zr(n,2 n)89m+gZr to 93Nb(n,2 n)92mNb reaction cross sections (‘Zr/Nb’ ratio methods) and published theoretical calculated results, respectively. The relative deviations between present work and the ‘Zr/Nb’ ratio methods are below 0.5% and a higher precision was obtained compared with previous published theoretical method. The present work lays a foundation for the application of D-T neutron source in nuclear technology such as nuclear reaction cross section measurement, calibration of neutron detector, and neutron irradiation tests, etc.