The inelastic scattering of neutrons on structural materials constitutes a major concern for the design of neutrinoless double $\beta$ decay experiments. We explore our neutron inelastic scattering data on ${}^{206}$Pb, ${}^{56}$Fe, ${}^{28}$Si, ${}^{24}$Mg, and ${}^{12}$C, searching for possible contributors to the background in the energy region where neutrinoless double $\beta$ decay signals would be produced.

• Received 28 June 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.88.027601