\u2009Prompt and delayed gamma rays induced by epithermal and fast neutrons with indium

Christian Stieghorst,Jingjing Li,Matthias Rossbach,Zsolt Révay,Tsitohaina H Randriamalala,Thomas Brückel,Zeljko Ilic,Eric Mauerhofer

doi:10.1007/s10967-021-08102-2

Abstract

The emission of prompt and delayed gamma rays from (n,γ) and (n,n´γ) reactions induced by irradiation of indium with epithermal and fast neutrons was investigated with the instrument FaNGaS operated at Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching. The average neutron energy of the neutron spectrum was 2.30 MeV. The measurement was done at an angle of 90° between neutron beam and detector. A total of 136 prompt gamma lines from which 42 are related to the capture of epithermal and fast neutrons and 94 to the inelastic scattering of fast neutrons were detected together with the delayed gamma lines of the activation products 113mIn, 114m2In, 115mIn, 116m2In and 116mIn. Intensities and neutron spectrum averaged isotopic partial cross section of the gamma lines are presented. Additionally the neutron spectrum averaged cross sections of the reactions, 113In(n,n´)113mIn, 113In(n,γ)114m2In, 115In(n,n´)15mIn, 115In(n, γ)116m2In and 115In(n, γ)116mIn were determined from the corresponding delayed gamma rays of the formed isotopes as 143 ± 22, 288 ± 13 194 ± 18, 201 ± 10 and 508 ± 24 mb respectively. The various results obtained were found consistent with the literature data. However, our measurement indicate the need to reevaluate the cross section of the 115In(n,γ)116m2In reaction for thermal neutrons.

Highlights

According to a series of recent white papers on nuclear data [1,2,3], improved knowledge on inelastic scattering of fast neutrons i.e. (n,nγ)-reactions are required for various applications in nuclear science and technology such as chemical analysis with neutron interrogation systems, design of fast neutron reactors and radiation protection
We report on the measurement of prompt and delayed gamma rays produced by capture of epithermal and fast neutrons and by inelastic scattering of fast neutrons on indium
Prompt gamma ray emission induced by capture of epithermal and fast neutrons as well as by inelastic scattering of fast neutrons on indium was measured with the FaNGaS instrument operated at FRM II

Summary

Introduction

According to a series of recent white papers on nuclear data [1,2,3], improved knowledge on inelastic scattering of fast neutrons i.e. (n,nγ)-reactions are required for various applications in nuclear science and technology such as chemical analysis with neutron interrogation systems, design of fast neutron reactors and radiation protection. According to a series of recent white papers on nuclear data [1,2,3], improved knowledge on inelastic scattering of fast neutrons i.e. We report on the measurement of prompt and delayed gamma rays produced by capture of epithermal and fast neutrons and by inelastic scattering of fast neutrons on indium. Gamma-ray intensities and, partial and neutron spectrum-averaged reaction cross sections for indium isotopes are determined and compared with literature data. Prompt gamma rays of indium are induced mainly from neutron capture via the 115In(n, γ)116In reaction and from inelastic scattering of fast neutrons via the 115In(n,n)115In and113In(n,n)113In reactions. The reaction rates R (atom−1 s−1) and the effective cross sections (cm2) for the aforementioned reactions and for the In(n,tot) reaction may be estimated as follows:

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