Preparation and characterization of three  $^{7}$Be targets for the measurement of the  $^{7}$Be(n, p) $^{7}$Li and  $^{7}$Be(n, $\alpha$) $^{7}$Li reaction cross sections

This manuscript describes the production of three targets obtained by implantation of different activities of $^7$Be into thin aluminium disks. Two of the produced targets were used to measure the $^7$Be(n, p)$^7$Li cross section in the energy range of interest for the Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis. A third target was used to measure the cross sections of $^7$Be(n, p)$^7$Li and $^7$Be(n, $\alpha$)$^7$Li nuclear reactions with cold and thermal neutrons, respectively. This paper describes also the characterization of the first two targets, performed after the neutron irradiation, in terms of implanted $^7$Be activities and spatial distributions.