Angular Distributions and Absolute Cross Sections for theT(p,n)He3Neutron Source Reaction

The $\mathrm{T}\mathrm{}(p,n)\mathrm{}{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ neutron source reaction has been reinvestigated utilizing the time-of-flight technique. This study was motivated by the lack of cross-section data above 13 MeV, by large uncertainties in the zero-degree absolute cross sections, and by the need to improve the accuracy of both the absolute and relative cross-section data. Angular distributions were measured from 0°-140° at proton energies of 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 MeV with a neutron detector whose relative efficiency was established to ± 1.5%. Absolute cross sections at zero degrees were obtained by normalization of the zero-degree yields measured with the neutron detector to precise charged-particle cross sections obtained for the reaction $\mathrm{T}(p,{}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He})n$. These results were compared to data obtained with a proton-recoil counter telescope.