Measurement of neutron capture cross section on 71Ga at 2.15 and 3.19 MeV and uncertainty propagation and covariance analysis* *Under the financial assistance of the B.R.N.S., DAE, Mumbai (Sanction No. 2012/36/17-BRNS Dated 14.08.2012), this research was carried out as part of a collaborative research project between the Department of Physics, Mizoram University and BARC, Mumbai. One of the authors (R.P.)

Abstract

The cross section values of the Ga()Ga reaction are measured, which are mb and mb at 2.15 and 3.19 MeV, respectively. The detailed uncertainty propagation and covariance analysis are also given. The Li()Be reaction was used to generate the neutrons, and the neutron flux was normalized using the In()Inmonitor reaction. The measured cross section data are compared with the data available in the EXFOR database, the data obtained using nuclear reaction model codes EMPIRE-3.2 and TALYS-1.95, and also the evaluated nuclear data from ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.1/A. The comparison shows that our result at 3.19 MeV is in good agreement with those of EMPIRE-3.2 and JEFF-3.1/A. Since there are no other measurements available at 3.19 MeV, our data could not be compared with literature data at 3.19 MeV, but they are consistent with the cross section values available at and MeV. Our result at 2.15 MeV is slightly higher than the literature value available in EXFOR, evaluated value, and theoretically predicted result.