Activation cross section and isomeric cross-section ratio for the (n,2n) reaction on 132,134Ba

Abstract

Abstract Cross sections of the 132Ba(n,2n)131m,gBa and 134Ba(n,2n)133m,gBa reactions and their isomeric cross section ratios σm/σg have been measured by means of the activation technique at three neutron energies in the range 13−15 MeV. BaCO3 samples and Nb monitor foils were activated together to determine the reaction cross section and the incident neutron flux. The quasimonoenergetic neutrons beam were produced via the 3H(d,n)4He reaction at the Pd-300 Neutron Generator of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The activities induced in the reaction products were measured using high−resolution γ ray spectroscopy. The pure cross section of the ground-state was derived from the absolute cross section of the metastable state and the residual nuclear decay analysis. Cross sections were also evaluated theoretically using the numerical 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.