Production cross section measurements of proton-induced reactions on Nb at energies of 58 to 100 MeV

Abstract

Production cross sections for the $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}(p,x)^{90}\mathrm{Mo},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{92m,90,89m}\mathrm{Nb},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{89,88,86}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{88,87m,87g}\mathrm{Y}$ reactions were measured using a stacked-foil technique in the proton energy range of 58--100 MeV. The target was arranged in the stack including Nb, Al, Au foils, and Pb plates and was irradiated with 100-MeV protons. After the irradiation, the production yields of the interested radionuclei were measured by a $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectroscopy system using HPGe detectors. Proton beam intensities were measured using the $^{27}\mathrm{Al}(p,3pn)^{24}\mathrm{Na},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{197}\mathrm{Au}(p,p3n)^{194}\mathrm{Au}$, and $^{197}\mathrm{Au}(p,pn)^{196}\mathrm{Au}$ monitor reactions. Some 54 cross section data points were measured, including independent and cumulative cross sections and were compared with other experimental data. The excitation functions of the reactions were also calculated by nuclear models using the talys code with a default mode as well as different nuclear level-density models. The calculated cross sections were compared to the measured data and to the tendl library. It was figured out that the theoretical calculations could reproduce the shape of the measured cross sections well, whereas the magnitude of the cross sections was not reproduced. It was also shown that the preequilibrium mechanism played an important role in the cross section calculations in this paper.