169Tm(n,2n)168Tm Cross Sections from the Threshold to 20 MeV

Abstract

The cross sections of the 169Tm(n,2n)168Tm reaction induced by neutrons with energies of ∼14 MeV were determined combining the activation technique with the latest decay data. Fast neutrons were produced by using a neutron generator at the China Academy of Engineering Physics, through the 3H(d,n)4He reaction. Induced gamma activities were measured by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Data for 169Tm(n,2n)168Tm reaction cross sections are reported to be 1827 ± 95 and 1926 ± 82 mb at 13.5 ± 0.2 and 14.8 ± 0.2 MeV incident neutron energies, respectively. The cross sections were also estimated with the TALYS-1.4 nuclear model code using different level density models, at neutron energies varying from the reaction threshold to 20 MeV. Results are also discussed and compared with some corresponding values found in the literature.