An ab-initio informed evaluation of the ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He reaction

Neutron reaction cross section standards play an important role in the measurement of neutron-induced reaction cross sections. Since such standards depend on accurate measurements and their robust evaluation, they are continuously assessed, updated, and improved. We present an ab initio approach to the evaluation of one neutron standard, namely, the ⁶Li(n,t)⁴He reaction cross section. Starting from an ab initio calculation of the elastic and inelastic low-energy neutron-induced reactions on ⁶Li, we incorporate phenomenological corrections extracted from available experimental data. Because of the high correlation of the cross section across the standard energy range we are able to provide a constrained evaluation coupled with predictive capabilities.