Neutron characterization study for D–T, p-7Li neutron sources with new BCA based direct collision coupling method

Abstract

The T(D,n)4He and 7Li(p,n)7Be neutron sources have been used for decades in nuclear physics research, stellar nucleosynthesis research and neutron therapy research. In this work, the neutron characterization including neutron yield, spectra, and angular distribution for D–T and p-7Li sources have been studied with our new binary collision approximation (BCA) based direct collision coupling method. Distinguished from the traditional path integration method for getting the neutron weight, the new model establishes a relationship between the scattering cross section and the impact parameter, which allows the secondary neutron generation carrying out jointly with ions BCA tracking. The experimental measurements of neutron characterizations have been employed for these two reactions, and the new algorithm is validated.