Neutron polarization in (p, n), (d, n) and (α, n) reactions on light nuclei☆

An experimental study of the neutron polarization vs. neutron energy has been made at 20 degrees lab for the (p, /b n/) reaction on /sup 2/H and /sup 7/Li at E/sub p/=50 MeV, for the ( alpha , /b n/) reaction on /sup 2/H and /sup 9/Be at E /sub alpha /=100 MeV and for the (d, /b n/) reaction on /sup 4 /He at E/sub d/=50 MeV. A liquid-helium polarimeter and 2 pi -spin precession magnets have been used. Neutron polarization has been measured for neutron energies from 15 to 70 MeV. The /sup 2/H( alpha , /b n/) reaction gives the largest figure-of-merit for high-energy neutrons. Neutron depolarization in the polarimeter walls has been checked.