Development of a Neutron Long Counter Detector for ($\alpha$, n) Cross Section Measurements at Ohio University

The origin of the elements from roughly zinc to tin $(30{<}Z{<}50)$ has yet to be determined. The neutron-rich neutrino driven winds of core collapse supernovae (CCSN) are a proposed site for the nucleosynthesis of these elements. However, a significant source of uncertainty exists in elemental abundance yields from astrophysics model calculations due to the uncertainty for $(\alpha,n)$ reaction rates, as most of the relevant cross sections have yet to be measured. We are developing a neutron long counter tailored to measure neutrons for $(\alpha,n)$ reaction measurements performed at The Ohio University Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. The detector design will be optimized using the Monte-Carlo N-Particle transport code (MCNP6). Details of the optimization process, as well as the present status of the detector design will be provided. The plans for first $(\alpha,n)$ cross section measurements will also be briefly discussed.