White paper on (α, n) neutron yields calculation

Understanding the radiogenic neutron production rate through the (α, n) reaction is essential in many fields of physics like dark matter searches, neutrino studies, nuclear astrophysics and medical physics. This white paper provides a review of the current landscape of (α, n) yields, neutron spectra and correlated γ-rays calculations, and describes the existing tools and the available cross-sections. The uncertainties that contribute to (α, n) yield calculations are also discussed with plans for a program to improve the accuracy of these estimates. Novel ideas to measure (α, n) cross-sections for a variety of materials of interest are presented. The goal of this study is to reduce the uncertainty in the expected sensitivity of next-generation physics experiments in the keV--MeV regime.