Measurement of (n, xn) reaction cross sections on $^{113,115}$In isotopes using quasi-monoenergetic neutrons within 10–20 MeV

Abstract

Cross section of the $^{113}$In$(n, n')$$^{113m}$In, $^{115}$In$(n, 2n)$$^{114m}$In and $^{115}$In($n, n'$)$^{115m}$In reactions has been measured at average neutron energies of 10.95 ± 0.67, 13.97 ± 0.97, 16.99 ± 0.88 and 20.00 ± 0.94 MeV, using neutron activation analysis followed by the offline $\gamma$-ray spectrometric technique. Quasi-monoenergetic neutrons were produced by bombarding natural lithium with proton beam of appropriate energies at the 14UD BARC-TIFR Pelletron facility, Mumbai, India. The present experimental results have been compared with available experimental reaction data in EXFOR, theoretical results of nuclear reaction model code TALYS-1.9 and evaluated data library JENDL/AD. The uncertainty and correlation between the present experimental data have been determined using the ratio technique of covariance analysis. This technique considers the collective error from all the attributes in the measurement. The experimental results discussed in this paper have significant importance in the advancement of reactor technology.