Measurement of Cross-sections of Yttrium (n,xn) Threshold Reactions by Means of Gamma Spectroscopy

Abstract

Neutron activation and gamma spectrometry are usable also for the determination of cross-sections of different neutron reactions. We have studied the cross-section of yttrium (n,xn) threshold reactions using quasi mono-energetic neutron source based on the reaction on 7Li target at Nuclear Physics Institute of ASCR in Rez. Yttrium (n,xn) threshold reactions are suitable candidates for fast neutron field measurement by activation detectors. Fast neutron field monitoring is necessary already today at a wide range of accelerator facilities and will gain on importance in future fast reactors of generation IV, accelerator transmutation systems or fusion reactors. The knowledge of the cross-sections is crucial for such purpose. Unfortunately, the cross-section is sufficiently known only for 89Y(n,2n)88Y reaction. For higher orders of reactions there are almost no experimental data. Special attention was paid to the 89Y(n,3n)87Y reaction. The nuclei are produced, both in the ground state with half-life 79.8hours and in the isomeric state with half-life 13.38hours. The isomer decays mainly through the gamma transition to the ground state, the beta decay of the excited state is negligible within our accuracy. The cross-sections of both 87Y productions were analyzed.