The Breakup Cross Section of the D+D Reaction at 6.94 MeV

Abstract

The D+D reactions are well known and widely used for a variety of purposes, mainly because of the use of the D(d, n)3He reaction as a mono-energetic neutron source. The least studied of the D+D reactions is the D(d, n)pD reaction known as the deuteron breakup reaction, which produces a continuum of neutrons at energies below the monoenergetic peak. The neutron energy distribution as a function of angle for the cross section, d2σdΩdE${{{d^2}\sigma } \over {d\Omega dE}}$, of the D(d,n)pD reaction has been measured using a 6.94-MeV pulsed deuteron beam incident upon a D2 gas target. The time-of-flight technique was used to determine the energy of the neutrons detected in an array of two lithium glass scintillators and one NE-213 scintillator. The breakup cross section was determined as low as 225-keV neutron energy in the lithium glass detectors.