Cross section measurements for 141Pr(n,γ)142Pr reaction at neutron energies from 13.5 to 14.8 MeV

Abstract

Activation cross-sections were measured for the 141Pr(n,γ)142Pr reaction at three different neutron energies from 13.5 to 14.8 MeV. The fast neutrons were produced via the 3H(d,n)4He reaction on Pd-300 neutron generator. The natural high-purity Pr2O3 powder was used as target material. Induced gamma activities were measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with high-purity germanium detector. Measurements were corrected for gamma-ray attenuations, random coincidence (pile-up), dead time and fluctuation of neutron flux. The neutron fluences were determined by the cross section of 27Al(n,α)24Na reaction. The neutron energy in the measurement were by the cross section ratios of 90Zr(n,2n)89m+gZr and 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb reactions. The data for 141Pr(n,γ)142Pr reaction cross sections are reported to be 3.3 ± 0.2, 2.7 ± 0.2 and 2.2 ± 0.2 mb at 13.5 ± 0.2, 14.1 ± 0.2, and 14.8 ± 0.2 MeV incident neutron energies, respectively. Results were discussed and compared with some corresponding values found in the literature.