Neutron activation cross-sections at (14.6 ± 0.3) MeV

The activation method has been used to measure 14.6 MeV cross-sections for the following nine reactions which are important for nuclear energy programmes: 89Y(n, α)86mRb, 89Y(n, n′)89mY, 89Y(n, 2n)88Y, 107Ag(n, n′)107mAg, 107Ag(n, p)107mPd, 109Ag(n, n′)109mAg, 109Ag(n, p)109mPd, 139La(n, p)139Ba, 139La(n, α)136Cs. Special features included a high-intensity neutron generator ‘KORONA’ with a useable fast neutron flux of 3 × 1014 n/m2 s, a fast rabbit system suitable for cyclic irradiations and measurements for short-lived activities, and a γ-ray spectroscopy system with real time correction of counting losses. The results of this investigation are compared with existing experimental cross-section values. The cross-sections have also been calculated using the EMPIRE code Version 2.19 involving Hauser Feshbach statistical theory with pre-compound emission. Default inputs have been used for nuclear model parameters taken from the RIPL-2 data base. The agreement with the experimental data is generally acceptable within the given experimental uncertainty.