DOE OSTI · 3004404
Review of Neutron Yield from (α, n) Reactions: Data, Methods, and Prospects
Abstract
Understanding the radiogenic neutron production rate through the (α, n) reaction is crucial in many areas of physics, including dark matter searches, neutrino studies, and nuclear astrophysics. In addition to its relevance for fundamental research, the (α, n) reaction also plays a significant role in nuclear energy technologies, for example by contributing to neutron production in subcritical systems using UO2, as well as in applications such as medical physics. This review examines the current state of (α, n) yield calculations and neutron spectra, describes the computational tools used for their estimation, and discusses the available cross-section data. We discuss the uncertainties affecting (α, n) yield estimations and propose a strategy to enhance their accuracy. Furthermore, this paper discusses and emphasizes the need for new measurements of (α, n) cross-sections for a variety of relevant materials. Such measurements are essential for improving neutron flux predictions, which are crucial for reducing uncertainties in sensitivity estimates for next-generation physics experiments operating in the keV—MeV range.
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Santorelli, Roberto [CIEMAT, Madrid (Spain)] (ORCID:0000000200122644), Cano-Ott, Daniel [CIEMAT, Madrid (Spain)], Cebrian, S. [Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain)], Dimitriou, Paraskevi [IAEA, Vienna (Austria)] (ORCID:000000018041549X), Gromov, Maxim [Moscow State University (Russian Federation)], Harańczyk, Małgorzata [Jagiellonian University in Kraków Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics (Poland)], Kish, Alex [Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000216483727), Kluck, Holger [Institut für Hochenergiephysik, Vienna (Austria)] (ORCID:0000000330613732), Kudryavtsev, Vitaly A [University of Sheffield (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)], Lazanu, Ionel [University of Bucharest, Magurele (Romania)], Lozza, Valentina [LIP, Lisbon (Portugal)] (ORCID:0000000295218517), Marco, Gloria Luzón [Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain)] (ORCID:0000000253521884), Mendoza Cembranos, Emilio [CIEMAT, Madrid (Spain)] (ORCID:0000000228431801), Parvu, Mihaela [University of Bucharest (Romania)] (ORCID:0000000261185251), Pesudo, Vicente [CIEMAT, Madrid (Spain)] (ORCID:0000000287536013), Pocar, Andrea [University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (United States)], Selvi, Marco [Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Bologna (Italy)], Westerdale, Shawn [University of California, Riverside, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000188246205), Zuzel, Grzegorz [Jagiellonian University, Krakow (Poland)]. 2025-07-15. Review of Neutron Yield from (α, n) Reactions: Data, Methods, and Prospects. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6471%2Fadeffa
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