Measurement of (n,γ), (n,p) , and (n,2n) reaction cross sections for sodium, potassium, copper, and iodine at neutron energy 14.92±0.02 MeV with covariance analysis

Abstract

The cross section of the $^{23}\mathrm{Na}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{24}\mathrm{Na}, ^{41}\mathrm{K}(n,p)^{41}\mathrm{Ar}, ^{65}\mathrm{Cu}(n,p)^{65}\mathrm{Ni}$, and $^{127}\mathrm{I}(n,2n)^{126}\mathrm{I}$ reactions have been measured at $14.92\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$ MeV neutron energy through neutron activation method followed by off-line $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectrometry. $^{27}\mathrm{Al}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{24}\mathrm{Na}$ is used as a reference reaction for the neutron flux normalization. The neutron beam was produced via the $^{3}\mathrm{H}(d,n)$ fusion reaction. Detailed uncertainty propagation has been performed using the covariance analysis and the measured cross sections are being reported with their uncertainties and correlation matrix. The cross sections measured in the present work are compared with the earlier reported cross sections available in the EXFOR database. Furthermore, theoretical calculations have been performed using the empire-3.2 and talys-1.9 codes with RIPL-3 parametrization, from reaction threshold to 20 MeV. The present experimental cross sections are also compared with the evaluated nuclear data from TENDL-2017, JENDL-4.0, and ENDF/B-VIII.0. In the case of $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ and $(n,2n)$ reactions, the comparison is also made with the IRDFF-1.05 evaluation.