Fast neutron inelastic scattering at the nELBE facility

Abstract

At the superconducting electron accelerator ELBE at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf the compact neutron time-of-flight facility nELBE has been built. There, neutrons in the kinetic energy region from some tens of keV to a few MeV are produced by means of electrons impinging onto a liquid lead target. The emitted neutron spectrum is well suited for measurements of cross sections of fast-neutron nuclear interactions relevant to the transmutation of nuclear waste. To study inelastic neutron scattering a rather unique double-time-of-flight was developed measuring both emitted particles, i.e., the scattered neutron and the de-excitation photon, in coincidence. By this method the inelastic scattering cross section can be measured with a continuous neutron source without the knowledge of the decay scheme of the sample nucleus. Beside inelastic scattering also transmission experiments to measure the total neutron cross section were performed and for the future neutron fission experiments are under preparation. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.