Cross-sections for , and reactions on molybdenum isotopes in the neutron energy range of 13 to 15 MeV * * Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11875016, 11565012, 11165007)

Abstract

Given the insufficient cross-sectional data regarding the 14-MeV-neutron experiment of molybdenum, the vital fusion reactor structural material, and the significant heterogeneities among the reported values, this study examined the (n,2n), (n,α), (n,p), (n,d), and (n,t) reaction cross sections in molybdenum isotopes based on the neutrons produced via a T(d,n)4He reaction carried out in the Pd-300 Neutron Generator at the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). A high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer, which was equipped with a coaxial high-purity germanium detector, was used to measure the product nuclear gamma activities. In addition, 27Al(n,α)24Na and 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb reactions were utilized as the neutron fluence standards. The experimental 92Mo(n,2n)91Mo, 94Mo(n,2n)93mMo, 100Mo(n,2n)99Mo, 98Mo(n,α)95Zr, 100Mo(n,α)97Zr, 92Mo(n,p)92mNb, 96Mo(n,p)96Nb, 97Mo(n,p)97Nb, 98Mo(n,p)98mNb, 92Mo(n,d)91mNb, and 92Mo(n,t)90Nb reaction cross sections were acquired within the 13–15 MeV neutron energy range. Thereafter, we compared and analyzed these obtained cross sections based on the existing IAEA-EXFOR database-derived experimental data, together with evaluation results corresponding to ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, BROND-3.1, and CENDL-3.1 and the theoretical outcomes acquired through TALYS-1.95 and EMPIRE-3.2.3 (nuclear-reaction modeling tools).