Activation cross sections for (n, p) reactions on nickel isotopes induced by neutrons around 14 MeV

The cross sections of 58Ni(n, p)58(m+g)Co,60Ni(n, p)60mCo,61Ni(n, p)61Co and 62Ni(n, p)62mCo reactions induced by neutrons around 14 MeV were measured using activation technique and a coaxial HPGe γ-ray detector. The natural nickel foils of 99.9% purity were used as target materials. Fast neutrons were produced by the T(d, n)4He reaction. The neutron flux was determined using the monitor reaction 27Al(n, α)24Na and the neutron energies were measured with the method of cross-section ratios for 90Zr(n, 2n)89Zr to 93Nb(n, 2n)92mNb reactions. The results of this work are compared with the collected partial recent data published previously and the estimations obtained from the published empirical formula based on the statistical model with dependence on the Q-value and odd–even effect taken into consideration.