Gamma-ray and Neutron Production Cross Sections for Neutron Irradiation of ¹²C

Improved neutron inelastic scattering cross sections were recently identified as a top priority nuclear data need, important for basic science, and a range of applications in nuclear energy, stockpile stewardship, and proliferation detection. For reactions on carbon, γ-ray, and neutron emission probabilities are needed for active neutron interrogation applications due to the prevalence of carbon in structural materials, controlled substances, and detector components. Using the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a broad-spectrum neutron beam was made incident on a 99.8% pure ^natC target. The Gamma Energy Neutron Energy Spectrometer for Inelastic Scattering (GENESIS), which includes HPGe detectors and an array of EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators, was used to measure energy- and angular-differential γ-ray and neutron emission spectra as a function of incident neutron energy. Initial results of ¹²C(n,n’γ) will be presented, including discussions of a forward modeling approach that leverages reaction model calculations and GENESIS observables to determine the nuclear physics quantities of interest. This work increases the utility of active neutron interrogation systems and provides benchmarks to facilitate reaction modeling improvements.