Calculation of neutron background for underground experiments

Understand

New generation dark matter experiments aim at exploring the 10e-9 - 10e-10 pb cross-section region for the WIMP-nucleon scalar interactions.

• Neutrons produced in the detector components are one of the main factors that can limit detector sensitivity.
• Estimation of the background from this source then becomes a crucial task for designing future large-scale detectors.
• Energy spectra and production rates for neutrons coming from radioactive contamination are required for all materials in and around the detector.