On the slowing down of 14 MeV neutrons

Issue title: ICANS-XXIII, hosted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Neutron Sciences Directorate

Guest editors: Kenneth W. Herwig and Erik B. Iverson

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Flammini, D.^a | Bedogni, R.^b | Moro, F.^a | Pietropaolo, A.^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] ENEA Dept. Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security, Frascati, Roma, Italy. E-mails: davide.flammini@enea.it, fabio.moro@enea.it, antonino.pietropaolo@enea.it | [b] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Frascati, Roma, Italy. E-mail: roberto.bedogni@lnf.infn.it

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: antonino.pietropaolo@enea.it.

Abstract: An experimental procedure is assessed to obtain moderated neutron fields starting from almost monochromatic 14 MeV neutrons generated by means of an accelerator-driven D-T source. The use of a metallic pre-moderator and a standard hydrogen-containing moderator is effective in producing neutron spectra featuring a thermal peak and an epithermal slowing down tail extending up to 14 MeV. The performance of proposed moderation system was investigated by means of MCNP Monte Carlo calculations, benchmarked against experimental measurements using an explorative set up, assembled at the Frascati Neutron Generator. The benchmarked calculations allow at making predictions about the brilliance of a 14 MeV neutron moderator in view of possible applications in neutron science.

Keywords: Fusion neutrons, neutron moderators, Monte Carlo simulations, neutron sources

DOI: 10.3233/JNR-190129

Journal: Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 22, no. 2-3, pp. 249-256, 2020