Neutron Induced Fission Studies at the CERN n_TOF Facility

The study of neutron-induced fission is important in a variety of fields of basic and applied nuclear physics. For fundamental research it provides important information on properties of nuclear matter and fission process, while for cutting-edge nuclear technology it is a key ingredient for the design and operation of current and innovative nuclear reactors as well as for the transmutation of nuclear waste and nuclear fuel cycle investigations. The n_TOF neutron time-of-flight facility makes use of the CERN Proton Synchrotron accelerator. It became operational in 2001 and provides pulsed neutron beams with high instantaneous neutron flux, based on the spallation induced by 20 GeV/c bunches of 7−8 × 10¹² protons impinging on a massive lead target. The facility has undergone a major upgrade during the recent long shutdown of CERN and a new spallation target has been successfully installed and commissioned during autumn 2021.