Measurement of the cross sections for the reactions Cr(n,2n)Cr, Zn(n,2n)Zn, Y(n,2n)Y and Zr(n,2n)Zr from 13.5 to 14.8 MeV

Cross section measurements for the reactions ⁵²Cr(n,2n)⁵¹Cr, ⁶⁶Zn(n,2n)⁶⁵Zn, ⁸⁹Y(n,2n)⁸⁸Y and ⁹⁶Zr(n,2n)⁹⁵Zr were carried out in the neutron energy range 13.47–14.79 MeV applying the activation technique. Neutrons were produced via the T(d,n)⁴He reaction, making use of the variation of neutron energy with the emission angle. The neutron fluences incident on the samples were determined relative to the well-evaluated cross section for the reaction ⁹³Nb(n,2n)^92mNb.

The induced γ-ray activities of the irradiated Zn, Zr and Y₂O₃ samples and their monitor foils were measured by means of a calibrated Ge(Li) γ-ray detector at the KFI, Debrecen. At the IRK, Vienna, relative γ-ray measurements using a high-purity Ge detector were combined with integral γ-ray counting by means of a NaI(TI) well-type detector on the Cr, Zn and Zr foils of highest activity and on some Nb monitor foils; integral γ-ray counting only was applied in the case of the Y₂O₃ samples. All necessary corrections were taken into account.

The results are compared to the corresponding results of cross section measurements published in the literature. The uncertainties obtained in this work are considerably smaller in most cases than the uncertainties given by other authors.