Neutron field study of p(24) + Be source reaction using the multi-foil activation technique

Abstract

The p(24)+Be neutron producing reaction was investigated at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences using the 24 MeV proton beam on thick beryllium target. Neutron field in close target-to-sample distance was determined employing the activation foils method; set of ten activation foils (Al, Au, Fe, Ni, Y, Ti, In, Co, Nb, Lu) was utilized. Neutron spectrum reconstruction from reaction rates obtained by means of gamma-ray spectroscopy was performed using the modified version of SAND-II unfolding code and relevant activation cross-sections from the EAF-2010 nuclear database. Determined neutron energy spectra were validated against the Monte Carlo MCNPX predictions. Developed p(24)+Be neutron field up to 22 MeV represents a useful tool for validation of cross-sections in energy range relevant to fusion neutrons (≥12 MeV), intensive irradiation experiments, and radiation hardness study of materials.