Kinematics of the ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He Reaction and Experimental Scenarios for Cross-Section Measurement

An approach is presented for the measurement of the ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He reaction cross section based on complementary measurements benchmarked against kinematic simulations. Key aspects of the approach include taking advantage of the particle leaking (PL) effect, and using a one-dimensional time projection chamber (1D-TPC) and an ionization chamber to detect the reaction products from monoenergetic and white neutron beams, respectively. We have derived analytical expressions describing the PL region in both the laboratory and the center-of-mass reference systems. Two complementary 1D-TPC experiments are discussed, using ⁶LiF deposits onto transparent aluminum foils, in the backward and forward orientations, respectively. The ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He reaction kinematics is discussed for 2-MeV neutrons and extended to the energy range from thermal to 3 MeV to reflect the experimental capability of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements Van de Graaff and Geel Electron Linear Accelerator facilities.