Measurement of Activation Cross Sections by Using p-Be Neutrons of Energy Up to 40 MeV

Abstract

Using a simple target system consisting of a Be disk and a water coolant a semi-monoenergetic intense neutron field for an activation experiment was developed by using proton beams of 9 different energies between 20 and 40 MeV. Activation experiments were performed at this neutron field using Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn and Au samples. Gamma rays from the induced radioactivities having half lives of between 2 minutes and 2.6 years were measured, and production rates of 32 radionuclides were obtained. The measured production rates were converted into excitation functions by using the least square method and the two unfolding codes of SAND-II and NEUPAC with an aid of quoted data and calculational results of the ALICE/LIVERMORE82 code.