The cross section for the K(n,p)Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV

Activation techniques have been used to measure the cross section for the ⁴¹K(n,p)⁴¹Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV. Neutrons were produced by the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction, and the mixed-power method was used to measure the neutron flux through the ²⁷Al(n,)²⁴Na reaction. The activated samples were counted for the 1294 keV, 1.827 h γ-activity of ⁴¹Ar and the 1369 keV, 15.03 h γ-activity of ²⁴Na using a 16% Ge(Li) detector and a 4096-channel analyzer. The cross sections for the ⁴¹K(n,p)⁴¹Ar reaction using the mixed-power method were found to be 53 ± 3 mbarn at 14.2 ± 0.2 MeV, 47 ± 3 mbarn at 15.2 ± 0.2 MeV, 41 ± 3 mbarn at 16.2 ± 0.2 MeV and 36 ± 4 mbarn at 17.2 ± 0.2 MeV. The associated-particle method was also used for measuring the neutron flux in order to check the mixed-powder result at 14.2 MeV. The average cross section for three associated-particle runs at 14.2 MeV was found to be 50 ± 3 mbarn which, within experimental error, agrees with the mixed-powder value.