Measurement of the cross section of 14N(n,p)14C reaction over the 0.0036–1.8 eV energy range using sample-added UV-Curable resin plastic scintillator

Accurate cross section data for neutron-induced charged-particle emission reactions are important for nuclear data evaluation. In particular, the 14N(n,p)14C reaction is essential both for dose evaluation in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), where it dominates the dose to healthy tissue, and for assessing the radioactive 14C inventory in nitrogen-containing nuclear fuels. In this work, a new method for measuring neutron-induced charged-particle emission cross sections was developed using a self-made sample-added scintillator detector, in which the 14N-containing luminescent agent 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) serves as the active target. As a demonstration, the method was applied to the 14N(n,p)14C reaction. Experiments were performed at the ANNRI beamline of the MLF facility, J-PARC, and the cross section was determined over the energy range 0.0036–1.8 eV relative to the 6Li(n,t)4He reference reaction. The obtained cross sections follow the expected 1/v energy dependence and agree, within uncertainties, with evaluated nuclear data libraries and previous experimental measurements, supporting the reliability of the present method as an approach for measuring neutron-induced charged-particle emission cross sections.