The Measurement of Ti (n,p) Sc and Ni (n,p) Co Reaction Cross-sections in the Energy Range 3.5 MeV to 5.5 MeV

Abstract

The measurement of neutron cross-sections for 46,47 Ti (n,p) 46, 47 Sc, 58 Ni (n,p) 58Co and 29Si(n,α) 26Mg reactions has been performed relative to the 238 U (n,f) cross-section in the neutron energy range of 3.5 MeV to 5.5 MeV. The neutron source was a deuterium gas target, employing the D(d,n)3 He reaction. The neutron flux measurements were made with a low mass parallel-plate ionisation chamber, to detect the fission fragments from the 238U standard. The 238U content of the fission foil was determined using an alpha particle assaying technique. A surface barrier silicon detector was used for the on-line detection of charged particles from titanium and nickel foils. Initially, an inert gas scintillation detector was developed to avoid using a silicon detector, but the technique proved unsuccessful owing to the high gamma-radiation sensitivity of the scintillator. A Monte Carlo program was applied to determine neutron beam profile from the gas target and to determine the irradiation geometry of sample and fission foil. The measured cross-section data show good agreement with some previously reported measurements and meet the accuracy requirements of recent data requests.