Determining the Energy Spectrum of Fast Neutrons in the n + 1H → n + p Reaction on the W–Be Source at the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The neutron spectrum produced in the γ +⁹Be → ⁸Be + n reaction at different boundary energies of the photon spectrum is modeled in order to examine the possibility of measuring nuclear cross sections with fast quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams of the W–Be photoneutron source at the Institute for Nuclear Research. The obtained spectra are used to model the response of a hydrogen-containing detector to neutrons in the n + ¹H → n + p reaction. An experimental setup for determining the energy spectrum of neutrons of the W–Be source is constructed. The spectra of secondary neutrons detected in an active hydrogen-containing target irradiated with neutrons are measured and compared to the ones modeled.