No Arabic abstract
We have measured the $gamma$-ray energy spectrum from the thermal neutron capture, ${}^{157}$Gd$(n,gamma){}^{158}$Gd, on an enriched $^{157}$Gd target (Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV up to about 8 MeV. The target was placed inside the germanium spectrometer of the ANNRI detector at J-PARC and exposed to a neutron beam from the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS). Radioactive sources ($^{60}$Co, $^{137}$Cs, and $^{152}$Eu) and the reaction $^{35}$Cl($n$,$gamma$) were used to determine the spectrometers detection efficiency for $gamma$ rays at energies from 0.3 to 8.5 MeV. Using a Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation of the detector and based on our data, we have developed a model to describe the $gamma$-ray spectrum from the thermal ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$gamma$) reaction. While we include the strength information of 15 prominent peaks above 5 MeV and associated peaks below 1.6 MeV from our data directly into the model, we rely on the theoretical inputs of nuclear level density and the photon strength function of ${}^{158}$Gd to describe the continuum $gamma$-ray spectrum from the ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$gamma$) reaction. Our model combines these two components. The results of the comparison between the observed $gamma$-ray spectra from the reaction and the model are reported in detail.
Natural gadolinium is widely used for its excellent thermal neutron capture cross section, because of its two major isotopes: $^{rm 155}$Gd and $^{rm 157}$Gd. We measured the $gamma$-ray spectra produced from the thermal neutron capture on targets comprising a natural gadolinium film and enriched $^{rm 155}$Gd (in Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$ powder) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV to 8.0 MeV, using the ANNRI germanium spectrometer at MLF, J-PARC. The freshly analysed data of the $^{rm 155}$Gd(n, $gamma$) reaction are used to improve our previously developed model (ANNRI-Gd model) for the $^{rm 157}$Gd(n, $gamma$) reaction, and its performance confirmed with the independent data from the $^{rm nat}$Gd(n, $gamma$) reaction. This article completes the development of an efficient Monte Carlo model required to simulate and analyse particle interactions involving the thermal neutron captures on gadolinium in any relevant future experiments.
The use of argon as a detection and shielding medium for neutrino and dark matter experiments has made the precise knowledge of the cross section for neutron capture on argon an important design and operational parameter. Since previous measurements were averaged over thermal spectra and have significant disagreements, a differential measurement has been performed using a Time-Of-Flight neutron beam and a $sim$4$pi$ gamma spectrometer. A fit to the differential cross section from $0.015-0.15$,eV, assuming a $1/v$ energy dependence, yields $sigma^{2200} = 673 pm 26 text{ (stat.)} pm 59 text{ (sys.)}$,mb.
The detailed understanding of the antineutrino emission from research reactors is mandatory for any high sensitivity experiments either for fundamental or applied neutrino physics, as well as a good control of the gamma and neutron backgrounds induced by the reactor operation. In this article, the antineutrino emission associated to a thermal research reactor: the OSIRIS reactor located in Saclay, France, is computed in a first part. The calculation is performed with the summation method, which sums all the contributions of the beta decay branches of the fission products, coupled for the first time with a complete core model of the OSIRIS reactor core. The MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution code was used, allowing to take into account the contributions of all beta decayers in-core. This calculation is representative of the isotopic contributions to the antineutrino flux which can be found at research reactors with a standard 19.75% enrichment in $^{235}$U. In addition, the required off-equilibrium corrections to be applied to converted antineutrino energy spectra of uranium and plutonium isotopes are provided. In a second part, the gamma energy spectrum emitted at the core level is provided and could be used as an input in the simulation of any reactor antineutrino detector installed at such research facilities. Furthermore, a simulation of the core surrounded by the pool and the concrete shielding of the reactor has been developed in order to propagate the emitted gamma rays and neutrons from the core. The origin of these gamma rays and neutrons is discussed and the associated energy spectrum of the photons transported after the concrete walls is displayed.
Average gamma-ray spectrum from $^{114}$Cd after thermal neutron capture in $^{113}$Cd was evaluated in units of mb/MeV. Two approaches are considered for estimation of average gamma-ray spectrum with normalization of the experimental data: mean spectra for all gamma-energies were found by averaging frequency polygon for experimental data histogram, and mean spectra were estimated as combination of theoretical values at low gamma-ray energies and averaging experimental data in high-energy range. The experimental spectra were evaluated from the gamma-intensities given by Mheemeed et al [A. Mheemeed et al., Nucl. Phys. A 412 (1984) 113] and Belgya et al [T. Belgya et al., EPJ Web Of Conf. 146 (2017) 05009]. They were normalized to average theoretical spectrum which were calculated by EMPIRE and TALYS codes with default input parameters. Procedure of normalization of high-energy part of the spectrum was described. As for now, the most reliable estimated $gamma$- spectrum for $^{113}$Cd(n,{x$gamma$}) reaction induced by thermal neutrons was presented.
Using the Double Chooz detector, designed to measure the neutrino mixing angle $theta_{13}$, the products of $mu^-$ capture on $^{12}$C, $^{13}$C, $^{14}$N and $^{16}$O have been measured. Over a period of 489.5 days, $2.3times10^6$ stopping cosmic $mu^-$ have been collected, of which $1.8times10^5$ captured on carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen nuclei in the inner detector scintillator or acrylic vessels. The resulting isotopes were tagged using prompt neutron emission (when applicable), the subsequent beta decays, and, in some cases, $beta$-delayed neutrons. The most precise measurement of the rate of $^{12}mathrm C(mu^-, u)^{12}mathrm B$ to date is reported: $6.57^{+0.11}_{-0.21}times10^{3},mathrm s^{-1}$, or $(17.35^{+0.35}_{-0.59})%$ of nuclear captures. By tagging excited states emitting gammas, the ground state transition rate to $^{12}$B has been determined to be $5.68^{+0.14}_{-0.23}times10^3,mathrm s^{-1}$. The heretofore unobserved reactions $^{12}mathrm C(mu^-, ualpha)^{8}mathrm{Li}$, $^{13}mathrm C(mu^-, umathrm nalpha)^{8}mathrm{Li}$, and $^{13}mathrm C(mu^-, umathrm n)^{12}mathrm B$ are measured. Further, a population of $beta$n decays following stopping muons is identified with $5.5sigma$ significance. Statistics limit our ability to identify these decays definitively. Assuming negligible production of $^{8}$He, the reaction $^{13}mathrm C(mu^-, ualpha)^{9}mathrm{Li}$ is found to be present at the $2.7sigma$ level. Limits are set on a variety of other processes.