The Oxygen Enhancement Ratio for d(80) + (Be + Ta) and d(80) + (Ta + Be) Neutrons

Abstract

Specialized experiments were performed to determine whether the neutron oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) changes significantly as the mean energy increases above 25 MeV. The experimental design called for OER measurements at two energies in the same experiment. The neutron production reaction d(80) + (Be + Ta) generated a beam with mean energy 38 MeV; upon rotation of the target, d(80) + (Ta + Be) neutrons were generated with mean energy 25 MeV. Suspensions of the bacterium Serratia marcesens were irradiated in oxic-hypoxic pairs, alternately with high- and lower-energy neutrons. Replicate experiments yielded OER values and 95% confidence limits of 2.25 (2.05, 2.50) at 25 MeV and 1.67 (1.57, 1.79) at 38 MeV. The x-ray OER was 3.3 (3.1, 3.5). The significant decrease in OER supports our results with Vicia faba showing OER values of 1.7, 1.4, and 2.6 for 25- and 38-MeV neutrons and for x rays, respectively. The yield of spallation products with mass number 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11 arising from neutrons interacting in tissue was analyzed. The tissue kerma from such product contribute kerma equal to 15 to 30% of the recoil proton kerma and thus may provide the physical basis for the observed OER reductionmore » at high neutron energies.« less