Cross section measurements of low-energy charged particle induced reactions using moderated neutron counter arrays

A high-and-flat efficiency moderated neutron detection array of He-3 counters has been recently developed for photoneutron cross section measurements at the future ELI-NP gamma-ray beam source. We have designed a three rings geometry of 31 counters with a similar to 37% efficiency flat within 5% in the 10 keV to 5 MeV neutron energy interval. A commissioning experiment was performed using proton beams delivered by the 9 MV Tandem accelerator of IFIN-HH. We measured the neutron production cross sections for proton induced reactions on Cu-nat and (27)A1. The (p, xn) reactions on Cu-nat were investigated in the 4.5 MeV to 14 MeV proton energy range with 250 keV steps, using pulsed and continuous proton beams. The low energy measurements below 10 MeV served to validate the detection efficiency calibration against well-known Cu-nat(p, n) cross sections. The (27)A1(p, n) reaction was investigated in the 5.8 MeV to 6.75 MeV energy range with 5 keV steps. Preliminary cross section results are here compared with preceding data.