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The accuracy of the pulse height weighting technique for the determination of neutron capture cross-sections is investigated. The technique is applied to measurements performed with C6D6 liquid scintillation detectors of two different types using capture samples of various dimensions. The data for well-known (n,γ) resonances are analyzed using weighting functions obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of the experimental set-up. Several causes of systematic deviation are identified and their effect is quantified. In all the cases measured the reaction yield agrees with the standard value within 2%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Capture cross-sections on several isotopes relevant to accelerator driven systems for energy production and nuclear waste transmutation, and to stellar nucleosynthesis can be studied at the innovative neutron time of flight facility (n_TOF) at CERN. The experimental apparatus is based on a low-mass Si-based flux monitor and a set of C6D6 liquid scintillator detectors. The accurate reconstruction of the cross-sections relies on the pulse height weighting function technique. The set-up used in the measurements is here described. The first results on reference isotopes, Au, Ag and Fe, used to verify the accuracy of the method are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]