Near at n_TOF/CERN: The First Multi-Foil Activation Measurement

The n_TOF facility at CERN is a facility designed to study neutron induced reactions. It is based on a pulsed proton beam impinging on a lead spallation target and it consists of two flight paths. The NEAR Station is a newly developed experimental zone, located at a distance of only ~3m from the spallation target and just outside the target-moderator assembly's shielding wall. The aim of the n_TOF NEAR Station is to take advantage of the extremely high neutron flux to perform measurements of MACS (Maxwellian Averaged Cross Section) mainly for nuclear astrophysics purposes but also for measurements important for other scientific fields such as fusion technology. In all of the aforementioned cases, the neutron activation technique is going to be employed.