Abstract

The inelastic neutron acceleration (INNA) cross section on the long-lived isomer state of 177m Lu has been measured from a new isomeric target using a direct method. The detection of high energy neutrons has been performed using a specially designed setup and a cold neutron beam at the ORPHEE reactor facility in Saclay.

Highlights

  • Super-elastic neutron scattering, called inelastic neutron acceleration (INNA), occurs during the collision of a neutron with an excited nucleus

  • Due to the usually high cross section of the thermal neutron interaction, such a process could be used to induce a fast de-excitation of an isomer

  • We report on experimental results on the direct measurement of high energy neutrons in the reaction between the long-lived isomer of 177mLu and cold neutrons at the ORPHEE reactor facility

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Summary

Introduction

Super-elastic neutron scattering, called inelastic neutron acceleration (INNA), occurs during the collision of a neutron with an excited nucleus. In this reaction, the nucleus transfers some of its excitation energy to the scattered neutron. Predicted [1] since 1959, this process was observed twenty years later on two isomeric nuclei [2] [3] The effect of this neutron induced de-excitation is known in nuclear astrophysics to take place in the s-process nucleosynthesis [4]. Due to the usually high cross section of the thermal neutron interaction, such a process could be used to induce a fast de-excitation of an isomer. From the previously published value of the INNA cross section and from these measurements, we discuss the relevance of these latter results

The ORPHEE facility
Neutron detector
Neutron flux determination
Measurement analysis
Conclusion

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