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Explain the 30 MeV cross-section discrepancy with prior measurements

Investigate and identify the cause of the factor-of-2-to-3 discrepancy between the 30 MeV 16O(n,Xγ) γ-production cross sections measured in this work and the corresponding results reported by Nelson et al. using a white neutron beam up to 200 MeV.

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Background

The authors compare their measured γ-production cross sections for 16O(n,Xγ) at 30 MeV and 250 MeV with published results by Nelson et al. (white neutron beam up to 200 MeV). While the 250 MeV results are consistent within uncertainties, the 30 MeV measurements are smaller by a factor of 2–3 compared to Nelson et al.

This discrepancy is noted as under investigation using Monte Carlo simulation and is beyond the scope of the present paper, indicating an unresolved issue that affects cross-section compilations and model validations used in neutrino detector simulations.

References

In contrast, our measurement results at a 30 MeV neutron energy show smaller cross sections by a factor of 2 to 3 than Ref.. This is under investigation in more detail using a Monte Carlo simulation, but no longer discussed here as it is beyond the current scope.

— Measurement of $γ$-rays generated by neutron interaction with ${}^{16}$O at 30 MeV and 250 MeV (2405.15366 - Tano et al., 24 May 2024) in Section 6 (Discussion)