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Title: Neutron inelastic scattering measurements on Xe 136 at E n = 0.7 to 100 MeV

Journal Article · · Physical Review C
 [1];  [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4]
  1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). Physics Dept. Center for Exploration of Energy and Matter (CEEM)
  2. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). Physics Dept. Center for Exploration of Energy and Matter (CEEM); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  4. Charles Univ., Prague (Czech Republic). Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

Experiments searching for neutrinoless double $${\beta}$$ decay ($$0{\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$$) require precise energy calibration and extremely low backgrounds. One of the most popular isotopes for $$0{\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$$ experiments is $$^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$$. In support of these experiments, the neutron inelastic scattering properties of this isotope have been measured at the GErmanium Array for Neutron Induced Excitations (GEANIE) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Time-of-flight techniques are utilized with high-purity germanium detectors to search for inelastic scattering $${\gamma}$$ rays for neutron energies between 0.7 and 100 MeV. Limits are set on production of yet-unobserved $${\gamma}$$ rays in the energy range critical for $$0{\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$$ studies, and measurements are made of multiple $${\gamma}$$-ray production cross sections. In particular, we have measured the production of the 1313 keV $${\gamma}$$ ray, which comes from the transition of the first-excited to ground state of $$^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$$. This neutron-induced $${\gamma}$$ line may be useful for a novel energy calibration technique.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP) (SC-26)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; AC52-06NA25396; SC0012191
OSTI ID:
1490397
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1485195; OSTI ID: 1492615
Journal Information:
Physical Review C, Journal Name: Physical Review C Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 98; ISSN 2469-9985
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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