Measurement of the $^{19}$F($\alpha$,n) Cross Section for Nuclear Safeguards Science

A precise measurement of the $^{19}$F($\alpha$,n) cross section will improve Non Destructive Assays (NDA) of UF$_{6}$ and other actinide-fluoride samples via neutron detection techniques. We will determine the cross section with two complementary approaches. First, we will bombard a LaF$_{3}$ target with a pulsed $^4$He beam from the Notre Dame FN tandem accelerator; second, we will send a fluorine beam from the ORNL tandem through a pure helium gas target. The neutron spectra from both of these reactions will be measured using the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE), and coincident $\gamma$ rays with a HPGe detector. We report here on data taken with VANDLE and a HPGe detector on a LaF$_{3}$ target. My poster outlines the motivation for this experiment, explains the stages of this experiment, the current experimental setup, and preliminary data.