New data on (γ, n), (γ, 2n), and (γ, 3n) partial photoneutron reactions

Abstract

Systematic discrepancies between the results of various experiments devoted to determining cross sections for total and partial photoneutron reactions are analyzed by using objective criteria of reliability of data in terms of the transitional photoneutron-multiplicity function Fi = σ(γ, in)/σ(γ, xn), whose values for i = 1, 2, 3, ... cannot exceed by definition 1.00, 0.50, 0.33, ..., respectively. It was found that the majority of experimental data on the cross sections obtained for (γ, n), (γ, 2n), and (γ, 3n) reactions with the aid of methods of photoneutron multiplicity sorting do not meet objective criteria (in particular, F2 > 0.50 for a vast body of data). New data on the cross sections for partial reactions on 181Ta and 208Pb nuclei were obtained within a new experimental-theoretical method that was proposed for the evaluation of cross sections for partial reactions and in which the experimental neutron yield cross section σexpt(γ, xn) = σ(γ, n) + 2σ(γ, 2n) + 3σ(γ, 3n) + ..., which is free from problems associated with determining neutron multiplicities, is used simultaneously with the functions Fitheor calculated within a combined model of photonuclear reactions.