C12(d, n)N13Total Cross Section from 1.2 to 4.5 MeV

The total cross section for the ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}(d, n){}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}$ reaction has been measured for deuteron energies between 1.2 and 4.5 MeV using the Oak Ridge National Laboratory 5.5-MV Van de Graaff and a $4\pi$ graphite-sphere neutron detector. Thin natural-carbon targets (deposited onto platinum backings by electron bombardment of carbon) of thicknesses 80.0±0.5 and 92.0±0.5 μg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ were used to derive the cross-section values. Ten peaks were observed in the total cross section in the above energy region. The thin-target yield was numerically integrated and a comparison was made with the experimentally determined thick-target yield. The usefulness of the ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}(d, n){}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}$ reaction for the production of an accurately known flux of monoenergetic neutrons and its importance in the absolute calibration of neutron detectors are discussed.