Thermal neutron capture cross-section and resonance integral measurements of 186W(n,γ)187W reaction using the thermal column neutron source at the Dalat research reactor

Abstract

The thermal neutron radiative capture cross-section (σ0) and the resonance integral (I0) of the reaction 186W(n,γ)187W were measured by the thin foil activation method using the well thermalized neutron source at the graphite thermal column facility of the Dalat research reactor. The activities of the irradiated target and monitor samples were measured using a high resolution HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer. The recent updated values of gamma-rays intensities and decay half-life of the 187W nucleus were applied in this experiment to substantially improve the cross-section results compared to the previous measurements. The thermal neutron capture cross- section and the resonance integral of the 186W(n,γ)187W reaction were determined relative to the standard reaction 197Au(n,γ)198Au. The values obtained are 31.76 ± 0.63 and 429.2 ± 25.6 barns for σ0 and I0 respectively. Our results and previous measured values are compared, and discrepancies are discussed.