The unfolding procedure of the alpha particle spectra of the 58Ni(n, α)55Fe reaction

The correction of the alpha particle energy spectra which is required because of the alpha particle energy loss, due to the thickness of the sample, is described by an analytical-empirical retrospective relation. This relation can yield a spectrum as it was produced in the sample from a corresponding measured spectrum. The alpha decays of the reaction 58Ni(n, α)55Fe were used as the source of the alpha particle spectra. The projectile neutrons were produced via the T(p,n) and D(d,n) reactions in the energy range from 2 to 9 MeV. The validity of our assumption for the correctness of the alpha particle spectra was checked by comparing the measured spectrum with the spectrum produced by folding the corrected spectrum with the response function of the system. The calculated folded spectrum appeared to be consistent with the experimental data of the measured spectrum. Typical results are given at the neutron energy of 8 MeV, where the measured data were accumulated from a telescope placed at 79° relative to the neutron beam direction.