Preliminary neutron foil dosimetry characterization of the BLIP neutron facility

The Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) produces neutrons from 200 MeV proton bombardment of a transparent (relative to 200 MeV protons) Be target. Threshold foil dosimetry techniques were utilized to characterize the BLIP neutron spectra which includes neutrons with energies greater than 15 MeV. Some operational characteristics of spallation neutron sources were also determined. The derived BLIP neutron spectrum has a hard component (neutrons between 6 to q2 MeV which peaks at 8 to 9 MeV) and a soft component characteristic of neutron scattering. Between 10 and 30% of the neutrons have energies below 0.25 MeV and less than 0.1% of the neutrons have energy in excess of 15 MeV. The derived neutron flux is 8.0 plus or minus 3 x 10/sup 9/ n/cm/sup 2/ mu C. (auth