Excitation Functions of Some (n, p) and (n, α) Reactions from Threshold to 16 MeV

Ground-state and isomeric-state cross-sections for 92Mo(n,α)89Zr and 95Mo(n,p)95Nb reactions in the 13–15 MeV energy region

The (n,α) and (n,p) cross-sections and their isomeric ratios (σ m /σ g ) were measured at 13–15 MeV for 92Mo and 95Mo by activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometry. The activated Mo samples combined with Al foils were used to obtain the cross-section values and the neutron flux, generated using the 3H(d,n)4He reaction. The cross-sections of the ground states were obtained using the metastable state absolute cross-sections and the residual nuclear decay rule. The excitation functions, total cross-sections, and isomeric ratios for the 92Mo(n,α)89m,gZr and 95Mo(n,p)95m,gNb reactions were calculated using the TALYS-1.95 software. 92Mo(n,α)89m + gZr and 95Mo(n,p)95m + gNb reaction excitation functions were obtained using the EMPIRE-3.2.3 package. These simulation results were compared with the corresponding experimental data and with the evaluated data from the ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, CENDL-3, and ROSFOND libraries. Only partial agreements were observed.

The activation of natZr by quasi-monoenergetic neutrons below 34 MeV

Good knowledge of cross section neutron induced reactions on Zr becomes of importance due to the use of zirconium as structural material in reactors, its applicability in neutron dosimetry and the theoretical model testing. Thin Zr foils (0.05 mm thickness, 99.2% purity) were irradiated in the quasi-monoenergetic p-Li neutron fields, the proton beams from NPI CAS variable-energy cyclotron U120M at proton energies 20.33, 22.44, 24.69, 27.64, 29.85, 32.31 and 35.11 MeV. Li target with carbon stopper was used for the generation of neutron flux. The reaction 7Li (p,n) produces the high-energy quasi-monoenergetic neutrons with a tail to lower energies. The flux density and neutron spectra were evaluated by MCNPX code and validated with set of measurements including Time-Of-Flight and Proton recoil Telescope and additional activation monitors. The pneumatic tranfer system enables the investigation of short living isotopes. The foil activity determination was performed by the nuclear spectrometry method employing two calibrated HPGe detectors. The reaction rates for natZr(n,*)89m,89g,89Zr, 87m,87,88,89m,90m,91m,92,93,94,95Y and 87m,91,92Sr were obtained and cross sections were extracted. The preliminary results are discussed.

Cross sections of (n,p), (n,alpha) and (n,2n) reactions on some isotopes of zirconium in the neutron energy range of 10-12 MeV and integral tests of differential cross section data using a 14 MeV d(Be) neutron spectrum

Cross sections were measured for the 90Zr(n,alpha)87mSr, 90Zr(n,2n)89m,gZr, 91Zr(n,p)91mY, 92Zr(n,p)92Y, 94Zr(n,alpha)91Sr and 96Zr(n,2n)95Zr reactions over the neutron energy range of 11.4 to 12.4 MeV and for the 94Zr(n,p)94Y reaction from 9.2 to 12.4 MeV. Nuclear model calculations were performed up to 16MeV. The statistical model incorporating precompound effects reproduces excitation functions of the three major threshold reactions, namely (n,p), (n,alpha) and (n,2n), quite well. Spectrum averaged cross sections were measured using a thick target Be(d,n) neutron field at Ed = 14 MeV. For the same neutron field averaged reaction cross sections were deduced using the excitation functions measured in this work as well as those given in the ENDF/B-VI, JEF-2, JENDL-3.2, BROND and ADL-3 data files. A comparison of the experimental and deduced integral data helped validating the differential data.