Experimental investigation of the 19F(n, α)16N reaction excitation function in the neutron energy range of 4 to 7.35 MeV

The interaction of neutrons with light nuclei study is of interest for understanding nuclear-reaction mechanisms. Fluorine nuclei are worth particular attention because they are abundant in the core of the promising molten-salt reactors and can noticeably affect the chain reaction kinetics. In this work we have experimentally investigated the 19 F( n , α) 16 N reaction cross-section at neutron energies ranging from 4 to 7.35 MeV.