Isomer ratios and cross sections for the isomeric pair 122mSb and 122gSb in the 123Sb(n,2n) reaction

Abstract

Cross-sections and their isomeric ratios σm/σg in the energy range of 13–15 MeV for isomeric pair 122mSb and 122gSb produced by the 123Sb(n,2n) reaction have been measured by activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique using the K-400 Neutron Generator at the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). Specifically, the versatile stacked foil irradiation technique and a high resolution HPGe detector were employed. The 3H(d,n)4He reaction was used to produce the neutron beam. Partial cross sections σm and σg were derived from the absolute cross section of the metastable state and residual nuclear decay analysis. The 123Sb(n,2 n)122m,gSb reaction excitation functions and their isomeric cross section ratios were numerically calculated with TALYS-1.8 code with different level density options. Results are discussed and compared with corresponding literature data.