Activation cross section and isomeric cross-section ratio for the 151Eu(n,α)148m,gPm process from threshold up to 20 MeV

Abstract

The cross sections of 151Eu(n,α)148m,gPm reactions and their isomeric cross section ratio σm/σt have been measured at three neutron energies 13.5, 14.1, and 14.8 MeV by means of the activation technique, relative to the 27Al(n,α)24Na reaction reference cross section. The pure cross section of the ground-state was then derived from the absolute cross section of the metastable state and residual nuclear decay analysis. The cross sections were also estimated using the nuclear model code, TALYS-1.8 with different level density options at neutron energies varying from the reaction threshold to 20 MeV. Results are discussed and compared with the corresponding literature.