Investigations of fast neutron production by 190-GeV/c muon interactions on graphite target

AbstractThe production of fast neutrons (1 MeV - 1 GeV) in high energy muon-nucleusinteractions is poorly understood, yet it is fundamental to the understanding of thebackground in many underground experiments. The aim of the present experiment(CERN NA55) was to measure spallation neutrons produced by 190 GeV/c muonsscattering on carbon target. We have investigated the energy spectrum and angulardistribution of spallation neutrons, and we report the result of our measurement ofthe neutron production di erential cross section. Key words: underground neutron flux, fast neutron production, muon-nucleusinteraction, time-of-flight PACS: 25.30.Mr, 25.20.-x, 25.40.Sc, 28.20.-v 1 IntroductionNeutrons are an important source of background in many low rate under-ground experiments. Detectors such as the Palo Verde detector [1], theKamiokandedetector[2],theEdelweiss detector[3],theStanfordUnderground corresponding author. Email address: verene.chazal@unine.ch (V. Chazal ). 1 Present address: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA 91109, U.S.A.