Measurement of neutron-induced activation cross-sections using spallation source at JINR and neutronic validation of the Dubna code

Abstract

A beam of 1 GeV proton coming from Dubna Nuclotron colliding with a lead target surrounded by 6 cm paraffin produces spallation neutrons. A Th-foil was kept on lead target (neutron spallation source) in a direct stream of neutrons for activation and other samples of ¹⁹⁷Au, ²⁰⁹Bi, ⁵⁹Co, ¹¹⁵In and ¹⁸¹Ta were irradiated by moderated beam of neutrons passing through 6 cm paraffin moderator. The gamma spectra of irradiated samples were analyzed using gamma spectrometry and DEIMOS software to measure the neutron cross-section. For this purpose neutron fluence at the positions of samples is also estimated using PREPRO software. The results of cross-sections for reactions ²³²Th(n, γ), ²³²Th(n, 2n), ¹⁹⁷Au(n, γ), ¹⁹⁷Au(n, α), ¹⁹⁷Au(n, xn), ⁵⁹Co(n, α), ⁵⁹Co(n, xn), ¹⁸¹Ta(n, γ) and ¹⁸¹Ta(n, xn) are given in this paper. Neutronics validation of the Dubna Cascade Code is also done using cross-section data by other experiments.