Activation cross sections of alpha particle-induced reactions on natural hafnium up to 50 MeV

Abstract

As an alternative production route for the medically interesting 178mTa isotope production cross sections of alpha particle induced nuclear reaction of the natHf(α,x)178W–178mTa process was investigated. Activation method, stacked target technique, and high resolution off-line γ-ray spectrometry were applied. Excitation functions of the natHf(α,x)178W reaction and of several other side reactions were determined up to 51 MeV. Activation cross section data were determined for the following reactions: natHf(α,x)176,177,178W, natHf(α,x)175,176,177,178g,180g,182g,183Ta, and natHf(α,x)173,175,179m2,180m,181Hf. The measured experimental data were compared with the results of earlier experimental data and the results of TALYS nuclear reaction model code calculation tabulated in the TENDL-2017 data library. Experimental data are presented for the first time in the 40–50 MeV energy region. Thick target yields were calculated for elemental hafnium target using the fitted experimental cross section data.