Spallation neutron production and the current intra-nuclear cascade and transport codes

A recent renascent interest in energetic proton-induced production of neutrons originates largely from the inception of projects for target stations of intense spallation neutron sources, like the planned European Spallation Source (ESS), accelerator-driven nuclear reactors, nuclear waste transmutation, and also from the application for radioactive beams. In the framework of such a neutron production, of major importance is the search for ways for the most efficient conversion of the primary beam energy into neutron production. Although the issue has been quite successfully addressed experimentally by varying the incident proton energy for various target materials and by covering a huge collection of different target geometries --providing an exhaustive matrix of benchmark data-- the ultimate challenge is to increase the predictive power of transport codes currently on the market. To scrutinize these codes, calculations of reaction cross-sections, hadronic interaction lengths, average neutron multiplicities, neutron multiplicity and energy distributions, and the development of hadronic showers are confronted with recent experimental data of the NESSI collaboration. Program packages like HERMES, LCS or MCNPX master the prevision of reaction cross-sections, hadronic interaction lengths, averaged neutron multiplicities and neutron multiplicity distributions in thick and thin targets for a wide spectrum of incident proton energies, geometrical shapes and materials of the target generally within less than 10% deviation, while production cross-section measurements for light charged particles on thin targets point out that appreciable distinctions exist within these models. Received: 22 May 2001 / Accepted: 3 September 2001     

The low-energy limit of validity of the intranuclear cascade model

The intranuclear cascade model is generally considered to be valid when the incident particle has a sufficiently small de Broglie wavelength to interact with individual nucleons. On this basis, a lower limit of 200 MeV is usually quoted for the incident energy in nucleon-induced reactions. Here this statement is questioned. A pragmatic approach is used, which compares the predictions of the Liège intranuclear cascade model with available data at incident energy between 40 and 250 MeV. It is found that this model gives surprisingly good results at energies well below the limit mentioned above. Results are also compared with the predictions of other models commonly used in this energy range. Received: 2 September 2002 / Accepted: 22 October 2002 / Published online: 6 March 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: cugnon@plasma.theo.phys.ulg.ac.be RID="b" ID="b"e-mail: P.Henrotte@ulg.ac.be Communicated by G. Orlandini     

Intranuclear-Cascade model calculation of photofission probabilities for actinide nuclei

We have calculated the fission probabilities for ²³⁷Np, ^{233, 235, 238}U, ²³²Th, and ^natPb following the absorption of photons with energies from 68 MeV to 3.77 GeV using the RELDIS Monte Carlo code. This code implements the cascade-evaporation-fission model of intermediate-energy photonuclear reactions. It includes multiparticle production in photoreactions on intranuclear nucleons, pre-equilibrium emission, and the statistical decay of excited residual nuclei via competition of evaporation, fission, and multifragmentation processes. The calculations show that in the GeV energy region the fission process is not solely responsible for the entire total photoabsorption cross-section, even for the actinides. The fission probabilities are 80-95% for ²³³U, ²³⁵U, and ²³⁷Np, 70-80% for ²³⁸U, and only 55-70% for ²³²Th. This is because certain residual nuclei that are created by deep photospallation at GeV photon energies have relatively low fission probabilities. The results of those model calculations are in reasonable agreement (at the 10% level) with recent experimental data on relative photofission cross-sections for ²³⁷Np and ^{233, 235, 238}U (but not for ²³²Th or ^natPb) from the Saskatchewan and Jefferson Laboratories over a very wide range in photon energy. Using our calculated fission probabilities plus the total photoabsorption cross-sections per nucleon, estimated from previous cross-section data for nuclei from C to Pb, we can infer absolute photofission cross-sections for the actinide nuclei and compare them with the SAL and JLab results. The resulting discrepancies, however, clearly demonstrate the need for direct measurement of the total photoabsorption cross-sections for the heavy actinides.     

The inversion-asymmetry of particle emission source in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The inversion-asymmetry of the particle emission source in relativistic heavy-ion collision under the Bertsch-Pratt convention is discussed and explicitly exhibited by a Monte Carlo model. The Gaussian source function popularly used in the HBT analysis of relativistic heavy-ion collisions is invalid in this case. An inversion-asymmetric source function is suggested. A method for extracting the inversion-asymmetry degree of the source together with the source size from experimental data is proposed.     

Thermalization of gluons at RHIC: Dependence on initial conditions

We investigate how thermalization of gluons depends on the initial conditions assumed in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. The study is based on simulations employing the pQCD inspired parton cascade solving the Boltzmann equation for gluons. We consider independently produced minijets with p _T > p ₀ = 1.3-2.0GeV and a color glass condensate as possible initial conditions for the freed gluons. It turns out that full kinetic equilibrium is achieved slightly sooner in denser systems and its timescale tends to saturate. Compared with the kinetic equilibration we find a stronger dependence of chemical equilibration on the initial conditions.     

Multifoil UCx target for the SPES project --An update

The target system is one of the key issues for the facilities aimed at the production of neutron-rich radioactive ion beams. In the framework of the SPES project (Study for the Production of Exotic Species), the possibility of using a target configuration with a proton beam (40MeV, 0.2mA) directly impinging on multiple uranium carbide disks is investigated. The ²³⁸U fission fragments constitute the source for the exotic beams and for this purpose the disks are placed inside a graphite box at 2000 ^°C. The target is split into several thin disks in order to allow the cooling of the system by thermal radiation. In this way about ∼ 10¹³ fissions s ^-1 are obtained with a relative simple system and with relative low costs. Further steps have been performed compared to previous publications and now all the main parameters of the system have been analysed by means of calculation codes: the fission rates and the fission fragment distribution; the power deposition and the thermal analysis; the thermo-mechanical behaviours of the disks; the effusive and diffusive extraction release properties of the target.     

Fission fragment production from uranium carbide disc targets

A possible solution for a target system aimed at the production of exotic nuclei as a result of high-energy fissions in ²³⁸U compounds has been analyzed. The configuration proposed is constituted by a primary proton beam (40 MeV, 0.4 mA) directly impinging on a UC₂ multiple-disc target inserted within a cylindrical tungsten box. In order to extract the fission fragments, the tungsten box has to be kept at 2000 ^°C. This system has been conceived to obtain both a high number of fission fragments (about 2 ^. 10¹³ atoms/s) and a quite low power deposition in the target. The power release and the fragment distribution have been calculated by means of the Monte Carlo code MCNPX. The thermal analysis of the proposed configuration shows the capability of the thermal radiation to cool the discs with a reasonable margin below the material melting point. Moreover, the possibility of increasing such margin with simple modifications of the target design is shown by means of parametric analyses. The thermal analysis of the tungsten box, also cooled by radiation, points out the necessity to heat it and/or shield it thermally, in order to take it at the requested temperature. Preliminary calculations of the target-induced activity have also been performed.     

Release time calculations for the SPES direct UCx target

A Direct Target for a mid-term RIB ISOL-type facility is being developed at LNL, in the framework of the R&D for the SPES project [1]. Using a 40 MeV proton beam impinging on a UCx thick target of 2.5 g/cm³ density, a production rate of 10¹³ in target fissions per second is expected [2]. The crucial point, when short-lived isotopes are produced in the target, is to build systems (target + ion source) with good release properties and high efficiency. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the GEANT4 toolkit [3] and the RIBO code [4] in order to optimize our target geometry and to estimate the average release time.     

On the electroproduction on nuclei

Recent data on the electroproduction of hadrons on nuclei are discussed. The effects of the nuclear absorption are investigated using the Lund model for the electroproduction on nucleons. A simple geometrical model with a minimal number of assumptions and free parameters is shown to describe the data reasonably well.     

Validation of CASCADE code using the monitor reactions

Production cross-sections of monitor reaction ²⁷Al(x, y)²⁴Na for proton, neutron and deuteron projectiles have been estimated from the CASCADE code from tens of MeV/n to tens of GeV/n energy and compared them with the available experimental data. It has also been shown that using the CASCADE code production cross-section of ²⁷Al(d, y₂)²⁴Na reaction can be obtained from the proton and neutron projectiles. Implicitly, this provides an alternative way of knowing production cross-section of ²⁷Al(n, y ₁)²⁴Na reaction which may be used to monitor the neutron flux in a wide range of energy. However, in the paper need of experimental determination of cross-sections for neutron projectile has been stressed. Similarly, cross-section of other monitor reactions like ²⁷Al(p, y ^′)²²Na and ²⁷Al(n, y ^′ ₁)²²Na are also calibrated as function of energy up to several GeV.     

Total reaction and fusion cross sections at sub- and near-barrier energies for the system 7Li + 28Si

Fusion cross sections are extracted for the ⁷Li$ + $²⁸Si system, via reaction cross section and transfer measurements at sub- and near-barrier energies ( E _lab = 5.7 to 14MeV). The energy evolution of transfer to reaction cross section ratios is determined with the aid of CDCC calculations, which subsequently allows the deduction of fusion cross sections at sub- and near-barrier energies. It is shown that fusion can be well represented in a BPM context. Fusion cross sections are compared for the systems ⁷Li$ + $²⁸Si and ⁶Li$ + $²⁸Si, the latter studied previously, and are found to exhibit different strengths. Last, the direct channels determined at 13MeV, are found to be dominated by a 2n -transfer mechanism.     

Development of the Monte Carlo model CASCADE-2004 of high-energy nuclear interactions

The Monte Carlo code CASCADE for the calculation of inelastic hadron- and nucleus-nucleus interactions at energies from several tens of MeV up to several tens of GeV and for modelling of nuclear-physical processes accompanying the transport of particles and nuclei in matter is improved by considering a more detailed model of decay of highly excited residual (after-intranuclear-cascade) nuclei. Results of calculations are in good agreement with experiment. However, there are some deviations for light-isotope production, which prompt the necessity of developing more correct models of evaporation and strong asymmetric high-energy fission.     

Neutron velocity distribution from a superthermal solid 2H2 ultracold neutron source

We have determined for the first time the velocity distribution of neutrons from a solid ²H₂ ultracold neutron (UCN) source. The spectrum rises sharply above 4.5m/s and has a maximum around 7m/s after transport in an 8m long guide. The number of neutrons in the UCN velocity range (< 7m/s) may be increased by a factor of two by placing the experiment 1m above the UCN source level.     

Directed and elliptic flows in 40Ca + 40Ca and 112Sn + 112Sn collisions

The directed and elliptic flows for different light particles and fragments in collisions of ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁰Ca and ¹¹²Sn + ¹¹²Sn at energies from 30MeV/nucleon to 100MeV/nucleon were studied in the isospin-dependent quantum molecule dynamics model (IQMD). With increasing incident energy, the directed flow rises from negative to positive, while the elliptic flow decreases with increasing the incident energies. The directed flow for the ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁰Ca system is not sensitive to the nuclear equation of states (EOS), but the directed flow for the ¹¹²Sn + ¹¹²Sn system is sensitive to the EOS. However, the elliptic flows for both ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁰Ca and ¹¹²Sn + ¹¹²Sn systems are not sensitive to EOS. A study of the dependence of directed and elliptic flows on the fragment charge (mass) is also performed. Received: 15 March 2002 / Accepted: 14 June 2002 / Published online: 19 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: Zhanghy@sinr.ac.cn; Permanent address: Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 800-204(2), Shanghai 201800, China. Communicated by W. Henning     

Modified Glauber model for the total reaction cross-section of 12C + 12C collisions

Glauber's theory has been adopted to calculate the total heavy-ion reaction cross-sections at high energies. At relatively low energies, Glauber's total reaction cross-section has been modified in order to take into account the Coulomb field effect and is called modified Glauber model I. In addition to the Coulomb field effect, the nuclear effect has also been taken into account in the Glauber model and is called modified Glauber model II. An analytical expression for the transparency function for heavy-ion reactions, involving the nuclear densities of the colliding ions and the nucleon-nucleon cross- section, has been obtained within the framework of the modified Glauber models I and II. The transparency and the total reaction cross-sections of the ¹²C + ¹²C collisions are calculated at different bombarding energies. The obtained results are in good agreement with the experimental data and with previous theoretical calculations. Received: 26 January 2001 / Accepted: 15 October 2001     

On the cascade approach to the quantum multiscattering problem

The multiscattering problem is studied in the matrix density formalism. We study how to isolate the quasi-classical degrees of freedom in order to connect them with a cascade approach. The different problems that arise, as well as their possible solutions, are discussed and exemplified with a pion-nucleus model. Received: 24 May 2002 / Accepted: 25 July 2002 / Published online: 17 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: salcedo@ugr.es Communicated by A. Sch?fer     

Light charged particle emission induced by neutrons with energies between 25 and 65 MeV on oxygen. I. Protons and deuterons

Double-differential cross sections (energy spectra) for proton and deuteron emission in fast neutron induced reactions on oxygen are reported for nine incident neutron energies between 25 and 65 MeV. Angular distributions were measured at 15 laboratory angles between 20° and 160°. Procedures for data taking and data reduction are presented. Deduced energy-differential, angle-differential and total cross sections are also reported. Experimental cross sections are compared with existing data and with theoretical model calculations. Received: 24 April 1998 / Revised version: 1 July 1998     

Multiparticle correlations in resonance-matter formation

The effect of multiparticle correlations on resonance and pion populations, in relativistic nuclear reactions, is calculated in the context of an intranuclear cascade model which includes N-body (N > 2) collisional processes. The resonance-matter population present in the highly-compressed phase of nucleus-nucleus collisions is investigated, in reactions between different intermediate-mass nuclear systems. Received: 29 December 1998 / Revised version: 20 December 1999     

Formation and decay of super-heavy systems

We investigate the formation and the decay of heavy systems which are above the fission barrier. By using a microscopic simulation of constrained molecular dynamics (CoMD) on Au + Au collision, we observe that composite states stay for a very long time before decaying by fission. Received: 13 December 2001 / Accepted: 19 March 2002     

Initial-state nuclear effects in proton-nucleus collisions

Two important initial-state nuclear effects in hadron-nucleus collisions are considered. The ratios of inclusive differential cross-sections for Drell-Yan dimuon production are calculated. The calculated results are compared to the E866 data. It is shown that the consideration of multiple soft rescatterings of incident quarks in nuclei and initial-state quark energy loss effects allow to get a good agreement between the calculated results and the experimental data.