Experimental nuclear data research at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center

The Los Alamos Neutrons Science Center produces intense pulses of neutrons over 16 orders of magnitude in energy from ultra-cold neutrons to neutrons with energies up to 800 MeV. The facility is based on an 800-MeV proton linear accelerator with high beam intensity and very flexible pulse structures. Neutrons are produced by spallation reactions of the proton beams with tungsten targets. Four separate neutron production areas, their neutron energy ranges, and the number of flight paths that can be used simultaneously are as follows: (1) the Weapons Neutron Research facility (0.1 to 800 MeV) (6 flight paths); (2) the Lujan Center with moderated neutrons (cold - 500 keV) (3 flight paths for nuclear data measurements); (3) the Lead Slowing-Down Spectrometer (0.1 eV to 200 keV) (several channels); and (4) the Ultracold Neutron Research facility (ultracold) (1 flight path). Nuclear data measurements are conducted with the first three of these sources. (author)