Neutron induced reaction cross-section calculations and GEANT4 simulation for the fusion reactor material SiO₂

Silicon dioxide, also known as silica (from the Latin silex), is a chemical compound that is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO₂, which has been known since ancient times. Silica is most commonly found in nature as quartz, as well as in various living organisms. Among many areas of its usage, with the developed technology and improved science, it is also considered to be used as fusion reactor material. The material is generally known due to its dielectric properties. As it's known, for various applications in the field of reactor design and neutron effect, reaction cross-section data are required. The cross–sections of (n,α), (n,p), (n, γ), (n,EL), (n,inEL) and (n,TOT) reactions for Si 28 and O 16 nuclei have been calculated by using TALYS 1.8 Two Component Exciton model and EMPIRE 3.2 Exciton model in this study. Also, theoretical nuclear reaction cross-section computations have been done with GEANT4 for the SiO₂ for neutron induced reactions. Obtained results from performed calculations were compared with the experimental nuclear reaction data exist in EXFOR. (authors)