Inelastic neutron scattering cross section measurements for Xe134,136 of relevance to neutrinoless double- β decay searches

Neutrinoless double-beta decay (0v beta beta) searches typically involve large-scale experiments for which backgrounds can be complex. One possible source of background near the 0v beta beta signature in the observed spectra is gamma rays arising from inelastic neutron scattering from the materials composing or surrounding the detector. In relation to searches for the 0v beta beta of Xe-136 to Ba-136, such as the EXO-200 and KamLAND-Zen projects, inelastic neutron scattering. gamma-ray production cross sections for Xe-136 and Xe-134 are of importance for characterizing such gamma rays that may inhibit the unambiguous identification of this yet-to-be-observed process. These cross sections have been measured at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory at neutron energies from 2.5 to 4.5 MeV.