Speakers
Description
Light-ion emission from neutron-induced reactions remains crucial for enhancing our understanding of the theoretical models governing these nuclear reactions, as well for a wide range of practical applications. Despite advances in recent decades, models such as those implemented within codes like TALYS, still strongly rely on experimental data to constrain free parameters. Accurate measurements are essential for better model prediction, specially at the 20 MeV - 40 MeV range, where pre-equilibrium processes dominate the emission processes and nuclear effects are gradually washed out.
This knowledge also directly impacts our comprehension on how structural materials respond to radiation damage under longer periods of irradiation, proving to be a fundamental aspect of fusion-relevant materials development, which will be extensively explored in facilities such as in the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - Demo Oriented NEutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) facility, under construction in Granada, Spain.
This project presents the first results for proton emission measurements from natural iron (Fe-nat), carried out in the Neutrons for Science (NFS) facility, part of the Grand Accélérateur d'Ion Lours (GANIL), in France. The facility provides a neutron beam from 40 MeV deuterons impinging on a Beryllium converter. The Medley setup, conceived and built by Uppsala University, was used to provide large angular coverage and optimal particle identification capability.
The results are compared with TALYS calculations using different configurations, as well as other available measurements. A key strength of this experiment is its ability to provide high-quality nuclear data across a wide energy and angular range, contributing to improve the knowledge of nuclear reaction mechanisms and pavementing the way for more accurate predictions on the radiation damage caused by neutron fields to structural materials.