n_TOF Collaboration(Massimi, C. et al.), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2017). Neutron spectroscopy of Mg-26 states: Constraining the stellar neutron source Ne-22(alpha, n)Mg-25. Phys. Lett. B, 768, 1–6.
Abstract: This work reports on accurate, high-resolution measurements of the Mg-25(n, gamma)Mg-26 and Mg-25(n, tot) cross sections in the neutron energy range from thermal to about 300 keV, leading to a significantly improved Mg-25(n, gamma)Mg-26 parametrization. The relevant resonances for n+Mg-25 were characterized from a combined R-matrix analysis of the experimental data. This resulted in an unambiguous spin/parity assignment of the corresponding excited states in Mg-26. With this information experimental upper limits of the reaction rates for Ne-22(alpha, n)Mg-25 and Ne-22(alpha, gamma)Mg-26 were established, potentially leading to a significantly higher (alpha, n)/(alpha, gamma) ratio than previously evaluated. The impact of these results has been studied for stellar models in the mass range 2 to 25 M-circle dot. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Guerrero, C. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2013). Performance of the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN. Eur. Phys. J. A, 49(2), 27–15pp.
Abstract: The neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF features a white neutron source produced by spallation through 20 GeV/c protons impinging on a lead target. The facility, aiming primarily at the measurement of neutron-induced reaction cross sections, was operating at CERN between 2001 and 2004, and then underwent a major upgrade in 2008. This paper presents in detail all the characteristics of the new neutron beam in the currently available configurations, which correspond to two different collimation systems and two choices of neutron moderator. The characteristics discussed include the intensity and energy dependence of the neutron flux, the spatial profile of the beam, the in-beam background components and the energy resolution/broadening. The discussion of these features is based on dedicated measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, and includes estimations of the systematic uncertainties of the mentioned quantities.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Guerrero, C. et al), Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2012). Simultaneous measurement of neutron-induced capture and fission reactions at CERN. Eur. Phys. J. A, 48(3), 29–9pp.
Abstract: The measurement of the capture cross-section of fissile elements, of utmost importance for the design of innovative nuclear reactors and the management of nuclear waste, faces particular difficulties related to the.-ray background generated in the competing fission reactions. At the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF we have combined the Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) capture detector with a set of three U-235 loaded MicroMegas (MGAS) fission detectors for measuring simultaneously two reactions: capture and fission. The results presented here include the determination of the three detection efficiencies involved in the process: epsilon(TAC)(n, f), epsilon(TAC)(n, gamma) and epsilon(MGAS)(n, f). In the test measurement we have succeeded in measuring simultaneously with a high total efficiency the U-235 capture and fission cross-sections, disentangling accurately the two types of reactions. The work presented here proves that accurate capture cross-section measurements of fissile isotopes are feasible at nTOF.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Zugec, P. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). GEANT4 simulation of the neutron background of the C6D6 set-up for capture studies at n_TOF. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 760, 57–67.
Abstract: The neutron sensitivity of the Cr6D6 detector setup used at nTOF facility for capture measurements has been studied by means of detailed GEANT4 simulations. A realistic software replica of the entire nTOF experimental hall, including the neutron beam line, sample, detector supports and the walls of the experimental area has been implemented in the simulations. The simulations have been analyzed in the same manner as experimental data, in particular by applying the Pulse Height Weighting Technique. The simulations have been validated against a measurement of the neutron background performed with a(nat)-C sample, showing an excellent agreement above 1 keV. At lower energies, an additional component in the measured C-nat yield has been discovered, which prevents the use of C-nat data for neutron background estimates at neutron energies below a few hundred eV. The origin and time structure of the neutron background have been derived from the simulations. Examples of the neutron background for two different samples are demonstrating the important role of accurate simulations of the neutron background in capture cross-section measurements.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Tarrio, D. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Measurement of the angular distribution of fission fragments using a PPAC assembly at CERN n_TOF. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 743, 79–85.
Abstract: A fission reaction chamber based on Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs) was built for measuring angular distributions of fragments emitted in neutron-induced fission of actinides at the neutron beam available at the Neutron Time-Of-Flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN. The detectors and the samples were tilted 45 degrees with respect to the neutron beam direction to cover all the possible values of the emission angle of the fission fragments. The main features of this setup are discussed and results on the fission fragment angular distribution are provided for the Th-232(n,f) reaction around the fission threshold. The results are compared with the available data in the literature, demonstrating the good capabilities of this setup.
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