Thick target neutron yields from LiF, C, Si, Ni, Mo, and Ta bombarded by 6.7 MeV/u deuterons

Abstract

Double-differential thick target neutron yields from the bombardment of LiF, C, Si, Ni, Mo, and Ta targets by 6.7 MeV/u deuterons were measured at forward angles using an EJ-301 liquid organic scintillator. The neutron energy spectra were derived via an unfolding method using the FORIST code with the detector response function calculated using the SCINFUL-QMD code. The neutron energy spectra and total neutron yields at 0∘ from the deuteron incidences were compared with the previous data of triton incidences on LiF, Si, Ni, Mo, and Ta targets measured at the same incident energy per nucleon. The comparison revealed that deuterons yield more neutrons for low-Z targets than tritons, and less neutrons for high-Z targets. The measured neutron energy spectra were compared with model calculations using the DEUteron-induced Reaction Analysis Code System (DEURACS). DEURACS successfully reproduced the neutron spectra from all the targets. For the triton incidence, some calculation codes were benchmarked, with JQMD/GEM and CCONE yielding good agreement with the measured neutron spectra at 0∘.