MEASUREMENT OF 182,184,186W (N, N’ γ) CROSS SECTIONS AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT

Abstract

Today’s development of nuclear installations rely on numerical simulation for which the main input are evaluated nuclear data. Inelastic neutron scattering (n, xn) is a reaction of importance because it modifies the neutron population, the neutron energy distribution and may create new isotopes. The study of this reaction on tungsten isotopes is interesting because it is a common structural material. Additionally, tungsten isotopes are a good testing field for theories. The IPHC group started an experimental program with the GRAPhEME setup installed at the neutron beam facility GELINA to measure (n, xn γ) reaction cross sections using prompt gamma spectroscopy and neutron energy determination by time-of-flight. The obtained experimental data provide constraints on nuclear reaction mechanisms models for 182,184,186W. Indeed, to reproduce correctly the experimental (n, n’ γ) cross-sections, the reaction codes must include accurate models of the reaction mechanism, nuclear de-excitation process and use correct nuclear structure information.

Keywords

• neutron
• nuclear reaction
• reaction mechanism
• neutron inelastic scattering
• tungsten