Measurement of the 6Li(n,α) neutron standard cross-section at the GELINA facility

Abstract

The 6Li(n,α) reaction cross-section is commonly used as a reference cross section. However, it is only considered a neutron standard up to 1MeV. For higher energies, there are discrepancies of several per cents between recent measurements and evaluated data files. In order to extend and establish 6Li(n,α) as a neutron standard above 1MeV these discrepancies must be resolved. Our measurement at the GELINA facility at JRC-IRMM in Geel, Belgium is ongoing. We are using a double twin Frisch-grid setup to detect both α-particles from two 6Li targets and fission products from two 235U reference targets. Our targets have thick backings but are employed in pairs, one forward facing and one backward facing. In this way we still cover, in principle, a solid angle of 4π. We present some preliminary results showing that the existing cross-section data is well reproduced around the resonance at 240 keV. The final data taking will start in the beginning of 2016, when the GELINA facility goes online again after a few months of shut down.