Measurement of excitation functions of neutron induced reactions in the energy range 13-15 MeV using D-T neutron source at neutron generator

Abstract

Excitation functions for the (n,a.) reaction o~ 63CUisotope and the (n,2n) processes on. 35CJi. 100N.lIO and 140Ce isotopes have been measured over th"I, n..eutron energy rang~ .of 13.82 - 14.71 MeY. Activation technique has been used in the measurement. The target elements were exposed to D-T neutrons produced by bombarding a air cooled, 3.7xl011 Bq copper backing tritium target with a 110 keY deuteron beam (d"') at the J-25 (AID, France) neutron generator facility of the Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology. For characterization of 34mC~60CO,99Mo, and 139Ceradioisotopes, high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry was applied. Monitor reaction 93Nb(n,2n)9~ was used for the neutron flux measur.ement 0f 63Cu(n,a.)60eo reacti.on while mom.tor reacti.on 27Al(n,a.')24Alwas used ~.or the flux measurement of (n,2n) processes on 3Sq 10lMo and 140Ce isotopes. The cross section values obtained from the available literature data have been plotted as a function of neutron energy to get the excitation functions of the reactions. Statistical model calculations were performed to reproduce the excitation functions of 63Cu(n,a)60Co and 10lMo(n,2nlMo reactions using statistical code SINCROSS-ll . Statistical code EXIFON was used in the case of IOlMo(n,2n)99Mo and 140Ce(n,2n)139Cereactions. In most cases the experintental and theoretical results were found to be in good agreement.