Quasi-differential elastic and inelastic neutron scattering from iron in the MeV energy range

• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2017.07.007
• Publication Date: 2017-07-23T03:03:11Z
• Authors: A.M. Daskalakis; E.J. Blain; B.J. McDermott; R.M. Bahran; Y. Danon; D.P. Barry; R.C. Block; M.J. Rapp; B.E. Epping; G. Leinweber
• Keywords: Neutron time-of-flight scattering; Quasielastic scattering

Abstract Scattering experiments performed with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Linear Accelerator measured elastic and inelastic scattering from an elemental iron sample. Eight liquid scintillator (EJ-301) proton recoil fast neutron detectors were positioned at several angles 0.5 m from the scattering sample. Data were measured using neutron time-of-flight in the energy range from 0.5 to 20 MeV, and pulse shape analysis was used to discriminate neutrons from gamma-rays. Nuclear data evaluations were compared to experimental data using Monte Carlo calculations. Below 2 MeV two new techniques were developed: a method which assessed inelastic-to-elastic scattering ratios and a method to determine the contribution from neutrons after only elastic scattering. These techniques, along with time-of-flight results, may help identify specific reactions that account for differences between evaluations and experimental data.