The neutron cross-section functions for the reactions 187Re(n, $\alpha$ )184Ta, 187Re(n,2n)186Re and 185Re(n,2n)184Re in the energy range 13.08-19.5 MeV

Abstract

In the present work, measurements of the cross-section functions for the 187Re(n, $\alpha$ )184Ta, 187Re(n,2n)186Re and 185Re(n,2n)184Re reactions were performed in the energy range 13.08-19.5 MeV. We applied the neutron activation technique using several wide-energy neutron beams (NAXSUN), recently developed at the JRC-IRMM. This method involves measuring the activity of the radionuclides produced in a target by the in energy overlapping neutron beams and a subsequent unfolding procedure. The present results are the first experimental data on these cross-sections for incident neutron energies between 15 and 19.5MeV and may contribute to improving evaluations and nuclear models.