New method to evaluate the 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction near threshold

MARIA S. HERRERA; GUSTAVO A. MORENO; ANDRES JUAN KREINER

NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH B - BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 349 p. 64 - 71

0168-583X

In this work a complete description of the 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction near threshold is given using center-of-mass and relative coordinates. It is shown that this standard approach, not used before in this context, leads to a simple mathematical representation which gives easy access to all relevant quantities in the reaction and allows a precise numerical implementation. It also allows in a simple way to include proton beam-energy spread affects. The method, implemented as a C++ code, was validated both with numerical and experimental data finding a good agreement. This tool is also used here to analyze scattered published measurements such as (p, n) cross sections, differential and total neutron yields for thick targets. Using these data we derive a consistent set of parameters to evaluate neutron production near threshold. Sensitivity of the results to data uncertainty and the possibility of incorporating new measurements are also discussed.