Measurement of neutron yield by 62 MeV proton beam on a thick Beryllium target

摘要

The design of a low-power prototype of neutron amplifier recently proposedwithin the INFN-E project indicated the need for more accurate called fordetailed data on the neutron yield produced by a proton beam with energy ofabout 70 MeV impinging on a thick Beryllium target. Such measurement wasperformed at the LNS superconducting cyclotron, covering a wide angular rangefrom 0 to 150 degrees and a complete neutron energy interval from thermal tobeam energy. Neutrons with energy above 0.5 MeV were measured by liquidscintillators exploiting their Time of Flight to determine the kinetic energy.For lower energy neutrons, down to thermal energy, a $^3$He detector was used.The obtained data are in good agreement with previous measurements at 0 degreewith 66 MeV proton beam, covering neutron energies >10 MeV, as well as withmeasurements at few selected angles with protons of 46, 55 and 113 MeV energy.The present results extend the neutron yield data in the 60-70 MeV beam energyrange. A comparison of measured yields to MCNP and Geant4 Monte Carlosimulations was performed.