|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Alcayne, V. et al), Balibrea-Correa, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Lerendegui-Marco, J., Babiano-Suarez, V., & Ladarescu, I. (2024). A Segmented Total Energy Detector (sTED) optimized for (n,γ) cross-section measurements at n_TOF EAR2. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 217, 11pp.
Abstract: The neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF at CERN is a spallation source dedicated to measurements of neutroninduced reaction cross-sections of interest in nuclear technologies, astrophysics, and other applications. Since 2014, Experimental ARea 2 (EAR2) is operational and delivers a neutron fluence of similar to 4 center dot 10(7) neutrons per nominal proton pulse, which is similar to 50 times higher than the one of Experimental ARea 1 (EAR1) of similar to 8 center dot 10(5) neutrons per pulse. The high neutron flux at EAR2 results in high counting rates in the detectors that challenged the previously existing capture detection systems. For this reason, a Segmented Total Energy Detector (sTED) has been developed to overcome the limitations in the detector's response, by reducing the active volume per module and by using a photo-multiplier (PMT) optimized for high counting rates. This paper presents the main characteristics of the sTED, including energy and time resolution, response to gamma-rays, and provides as well details of the use of the Pulse Height Weighting Technique (PHWT) with this detector. The sTED has been validated to perform neutron-capture cross-section measurements in EAR2 in the neutron energy range from thermal up to at least 400 keV. The detector has already been successfully used in several measurements at nTOF EAR2.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Gawlik, A. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Tain, J. L., & Tarifeño-Saldivia, A. (2021). Radiative Neutron Capture Cross-Section Measurement of Ge Isotopes at n_TOF CERN Facility and Its Importance for Stellar Nucleosynthesis. Acta Phys. Pol. A, 139(4), 383–388.
Abstract: This manuscript summarizes the results of radiative neutron capture cross-section measurements on two stable germanium isotopes, Ge-70 and Ge-73. Experiments were performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN via the time-of-flight technique, over a wide neutron energy range, for all stable germanium isotopes (70,72,73,74, and 76). Results for Ge-70 [Phys. Rev. C 100, 045804 (2019)] and Ge-73 [Phys. Lett. B 790, 458 (2019)] are already published. In the field of nuclear structure, such measurements allow to study excited levels close to the neutron binding energy and to obtain information on nuclear properties. In stellar nucleosynthesis research, neutron induced reactions on germanium are of importance for nucleosynthesis in the weak component of the slow neutron capture processes.
|
|
|
|
Colonna, N., Belloni, F., Berthoumieux, E., Calviani, M., Domingo-Pardo, C., Guerrero, C., et al. (2010). Advanced nuclear energy systems and the need of accurate nuclear data: the n_TOF project at CERN. Energy Environ. Sci., 3(12), 1910–1917.
Abstract: To satisfy the world's constantly increasing demand for energy, a suitable mix of different energy sources has to be devised. In this scenario, an important role could be played by nuclear energy, provided that major safety, waste and proliferation issues affecting current nuclear reactors are satisfactorily addressed. To this purpose, a large effort has been under way for a few years towards the development of advanced nuclear systems with the aim of closing the fuel cycle. Generation IV reactors, with full or partial waste recycling capability, accelerator driven systems, as well as new fuel cycles are the main options being investigated. The design of advanced systems requires improvements in basic nuclear data, such as cross-sections for neutron-induced reactions on actinides. In this paper, the main concepts of advanced reactor systems are described, together with the related needs of new and accurate nuclear data. The present activity in this field at the neutron facility n_TOF at CERN is discussed.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Belloni, F. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Neutron-induced fission cross-section of U-233 in the energy range 0.5 < E-n < 20 MeV. Eur. Phys. J. A, 47(1), 2–7pp.
Abstract: The neutron-induced fission cross-section of U-233 has been measured at the CERN nTOF facility relative to the standard fission cross-section of U-235 between 0.5 and 20MeV. The experiment was performed with a fast ionization chamber for the detection of the fission fragments and to discriminate against alpha-particles from the natural radioactivity of the samples. The high instantaneous flux and the low background of the nTOF facility result in data with uncertainties of approximate to 3%, which were found in good agreement with previous experiments. The high quality of the present results allows to improve the evaluation of the U-233(n, f) cross-section and, consequently, the design of energy systems based on the Th/U cycle.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Belloni, F. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Measurement of the neutron-induced fission cross-section of Am-243 relative to U-235 from 0.5 to 20 MeV. Eur. Phys. J. A, 47(12), 160–8pp.
Abstract: The ratio of the neutron-induced fission cross-sections of Am-243 and U-235 was measured in the energy range from 0.5 to 20 MeV with uncertainties of approximate to 4%. The experiment was performed at the CERN n_TOF facility using a fast ionization chamber. With the good counting statistics that could be achieved thanks to the high instantaneous flux and the low backgrounds, the present results are useful for resolving discrepancies in previous data sets and are important for future reactors with improved fuel burn-up.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Belloni, F. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2013). Measurement of the neutron-induced fission cross-section of Am-241 at the time-of-flight facility n_TOF. Eur. Phys. J. A, 49(1), 2–6pp.
Abstract: The neutron-induced fission cross-section of Am-241 has been measured relative to the standard fission cross-section of U-235 between 0.5 and 20 MeV. The experiment was performed at the CERN nTOF facility. Fission fragments were detected by a fast ionization chamber by discriminating against the alpha-particles from the high radioactivity of the samples. The high instantaneous neutron flux and the low background of the nTOF facility enabled us to obtain uncertainties of approximate to 5%. With the present results it was possible to resolve discrepancies between previous data sets and to confirm current evaluations, thus providing important information for design studies of future reactors with improved fuel burn-up.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Barbagallo, M. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2013). High-accuracy determination of the neutron flux at n_TOF. Eur. Phys. J. A, 49(12), 156–11pp.
Abstract: The neutron flux of the nTOF facility at CERN was measured, after installation of the new spallation target, with four different systems based on three neutron-converting reactions, which represent accepted cross sections standards in different energy regions. A careful comparison and combination of the different measurements allowed us to reach an unprecedented accuracy on the energy dependence of the neutron flux in the very wide range (thermal to 1 GeV) that characterizes the nTOF neutron beam. This is a pre-requisite for the high accuracy of cross section measurements at n_TOF. An unexpected anomaly in the neutron-induced fission cross section of U-235 is observed in the energy region between 10 and 30keV, hinting at a possible overestimation of this important cross section, well above currently assigned uncertainties.
|
|
|
|
Huyuk, T. et al, Gadea, A., Aliaga-Varea, R. J., & Domingo-Pardo, C. (2016). Conceptual design of the early implementation of the NEutron Detector Array (NEDA) with AGATA. Eur. Phys. J. A, 52(3), 55–8pp.
Abstract: The NEutron Detector Array (NEDA) project aims at the construction of a new high-efficiency compact neutron detector array to be coupled with large gamma-ray arrays such as AGATA. The application of NEDA ranges from its use as selective neutron multiplicity filter for fusion-evaporation reaction to a large solid angle neutron tagging device. In the present work, possible configurations for the NEDA coupled with the Neutron Wall for the early implementation with AGATA has been simulated, using Monte Carlo techniques, in order to evaluate their performance figures. The goal of this early NEDA implementation is to improve, with respect to previous instruments, efficiency and capability to select multiplicity for fusion-evaporation reaction channels in which 1, 2 or 3 neutrons are emitted. Each NEDA detector unit has the shape of a regular hexagonal prism with a volume of about 3.23 l and it is filled with the EJ301 liquid scintillator, that presents good neutron-gamma discrimination properties. The simulations have been performed using a fusion-evaporation event generator that has been validated with a set of experimental data obtained in the Ni-58 + Fe-56 reaction measured with the Neutron Wall detector array.
|
|
|
|
n_TOF Collaboration(Zugec, P. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2016). Integral measurement of the C-12(n, p)B-12 reaction up to 10 GeV. Eur. Phys. J. A, 52(4), 101–13pp.
Abstract: The integral measurement of the C-12(n, p)B-12 reaction was performed at the neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF at CERN. The total number of B-12 nuclei produced per neutron pulse of the nTOF beam was determined using the activation technique in combination with a time-of-flight technique. The cross section is integrated over the n_TOF neutron energy spectrum from reaction threshold at 13.6 MeV to 10 GeV. Having been measured up to 1 GeV on basis of the U-235(n, f) reaction, the neutron energy spectrum above 200 MeV has been re-evaluated due to the recent extension of the cross section reference for this particular reaction, which is otherwise considered a standard up to 200 MeV. The results from the dedicated GEANT4 simulations have been used to evaluate the neutron flux from 1 GeV up to 10 GeV. The experimental results related to the C-12(n, p)B-12 reaction are compared with the evaluated cross sections from major libraries and with the predictions of different GEANT4 models, which mostly underestimate the B-12 production. On the contrary, a good reproduction of the integral cross section derived from measurements is obtained with TALYS-1.6 calculations, with optimized parameters.
|
|
