A measurement of the muon-induced neutron yield in lead at a depth of 2850 m water equivalent

L. Reichhart*, A. Lindote, D. Yu Akimov, H. M. Araujo, E. J. Barnes, V. A. Belov, A. Bewick, A. A. Burenkov, V. Chepel, A. Currie, L. DeViveiros, B. Edwards, V. Francis, C. Ghag, A. Hollingsworth, M. Horn, G. E. Kalmus, A. S. Kobyakin, A. G. Kovalenko, V. A. KudryavtsevV. N. Lebedenko, M. I. Lopes, R. Luescher, P. Majewski, A. St J. Murphy, F. Neves, S. M. Paling, J. Pinto da Cunha, R. Preece, J. J. Quenby, P. R. Scovell, C. Silva, V. N. Solovov, N. J. T. Smith, P. F. Smith, V. N. Stekhanov, T. J. Sumner, C. Thorne, R. J. Walker, Alex Murphy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract / Description of output

We present results from the measurement of the neutron production rate in lead by high energy cosmic-ray muons at a depth of 2850 m water equivalent (mean muon energy of 260 GeV). A tonne-scale highly segmented plastic scintillator detector was utilised to detect both the energy depositions from the traversing muons as well as the delayed radiative capture signals of the induced neutrons. Complementary Monte Carlo simulations reproduce well the distributions of muons and detected muon-induced neutrons. Absolute agreement between simulation and data is of the order of 25%. By comparing the measured and simulated neutron capture rates a neutron yield in pure lead of (5.78(-0.28)(+0.21)) x 10(-3) neutrons/muon/(g/cm(2)) has been obtained.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLOW RADIOACTIVITY TECHNIQUES 2013 (LRT 2013)
EditorsL Miramonti, L Pandola
Place of PublicationMELVILLE
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics
Pages219-222
Number of pages4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event4th International Workshop on Low Radioactivity Techniques (LRT) - Assergi, Italy
Duration: 10 Apr 201312 Apr 2013

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
PublisherAMER INST PHYSICS
Volume1549
ISSN (Print)0094-243X

Conference

Conference4th International Workshop on Low Radioactivity Techniques (LRT)
Country/TerritoryItaly
Period10/04/1312/04/13

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Muon-induced neutron background
  • cosmic-ray muons
  • neutrons
  • underground experiments
  • ZEPLIN-III
  • dark matter
  • GEANT4
  • Monte Carlo simulations
  • VETO DETECTOR
  • MUSIC

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A measurement of the muon-induced neutron yield in lead at a depth of 2850 m water equivalent'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this