European Collaboration for High-Resolution Measurements of Neutron Cross Sections between 1 MeV and 250 MeV

The experimental determination of neutron cross section data has always been of primary importance in Nuclear Physics. Many of the salient features of nuclear levels and densities can be determined from the resonant structure of such cross sections and of their decay scheme. An associated importance of precise neutron induced reaction cross sections has resulted from the worldwide interest in Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) that has emerged at CERN and elsewhere. Many applications, such as accelerator-based transmutation of nuclear waste, energy amplification medical research, astrophysical applications and also fusion research require nuclear data that quantitatively and qualitatively go beyond the presently available traditional evaluation.\\ \\We consider a spallation driven TOF facility at the CERN-PS with an unprecedented neutron flux (1000 times the existing ones) in the broad energy range between 1 eV and 250 MeV and with very high energy resolution. The present concept for an intense neutron source makes use of both: the specifically high flux of neutrons attainable using the spallation process in the many GeV range for the incoming proton and the remarkable beam density of the CERN-PS, which can generate high intensities of the order of 10$^{13}$ ppp (protons per pulse) of 24 GeV (kinetic energy) protons - high enough to produce the vast number of $\sim$ 10$^{16}$ neutrons per pulse - in the form of short ($\leq$ 6 ns) pulses with a repetition time of more than 2.4 seconds. \\ \\These novel features provide great potentials in Nuclear Physics, in Nuclear Astrophysics, in Nuclear Medicine and Dosimetry, but also to the problem of Nuclear Waste Incineration (TARC). The results obtained will allow to compile more reliable and accurate nuclear level data and neutron induced cross section evaluation relevant to many fields of science.