https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-12658-0
Regular Article - Experimental Physics
Fast neutron production at the LNL Tandem from the 
Li(
N,xn)X reaction
1
Instituto de Física Corpuscular, CSIC-University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
2
Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Natural Sciences, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany
3
Cluster of Excellence PRISMA+, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, 55128, Mainz, Germany
4
Legnaro Division, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, viale dell’Università 2, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
5
Padova Division, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, via Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
6
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Meccanica, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, via G. Di Biasio 43, 03043, Cassino (FR), Italy
7
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
8
Department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Received:
13
November
2023
Accepted:
10
March
2024
Published online:
8
April
2024
Fast neutron beams (E
1 MeV) are of relevance for many scientific and industrial applications. This paper explores fast neutron production using a TANDEM accelerator at the Legnaro National Laboratories, via an energetic ion beam (90 MeV 
) onto a lithium target. The high energy models for nuclear collision of FLUKA foresee large neutron yields for reactions of this kind. The experiment aimed at validating the expected neutron yields from FLUKA simulations, using two separate and independent set-ups: one based on the multi-foil activation technique, and the other on the time of flight technique, by using liquid scintillator detectors. The results of the experiment show clear agreement of the measured spectra with the FLUKA simulations, both in the shape and the magnitude of the neutron flux at the measured positions. The neutron spectrum is centered around the 8 MeV range with mild tails, and a maximum neutron energy spanning up to 50 MeV. These advantageous results provide a starting point in the development of fast neutron beams based on high energy ion beams from medium-sized accelerator facilities.
© The Author(s) 2024
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Funded by SCOAP3.
