Neutron excitation functions for Sc, Nb, and Ni in the energy range 13–19 MeV

Activation techniques have been used to measure the excitation functions for ⁴⁵Sc(n, 2n)^{44m + g}Sc and Nb(n,2n)^92mNb in the energy range 13–19 MeV and ⁵⁸Ni(n,p)^{58m + g}Co and ⁵⁸Ni(n,2n)⁵⁷Ni in the energy range 13–17 MeV. The neutrons were produced by the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction with the Auburn University 3 MV Dynamitron accelerator. Absolute cross-sections were measured using the mixed powder method with ²⁷Al(n,α)²⁴Na as the monitor reaction. The experimental isomeric-yield ratios were determined by measuring the ground state gamma activity resulting from the reaction and making a least squares fit to the time behavior of the activity in which the cross-section ratio was treated as a variable parameter. Cross-sections calculated from the semi-empirical relation due to Pearlstein are given for qualitative comparisons with the present results.