The CERN n_TOF Facility: Neutron Beams Performances for Cross Section Measurements

This paper presents the characteristics of the existing CERN n_TOF neutron beam facility (n_TOF-EAR1 with a flight path of 185 meters) and the future one (n_TOF EAR-2 with a flight path of 19 meters), which will operate in parallel from Summer 2014. The new neutron beam will provide a 25 times higher neutron flux delivered in 10 times shorter neutron pulses, thus offering more powerful capabilities for measuring small mass, low cross section and/or high activity samples.