Measurements and model calculations of activation cross sections for 232Th(n,2n)231Th reaction between 13.57 and 14.83 MeV neutrons

In this study, activation cross sections were measured for the reaction of 232Th(n,2n)231Th (T1/2 = 25.5 h) by using neutron activation technique at six different neutron energies from 13.57 and 14.83 MeV. Neutrons were produced via the 3H(2H,n)4He reaction using SAMES T-400 neutron generator. Irradiated and activated high purity Thorium foils were measured by a high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer with a high-purity Germanium (HpGe) detector. In cross section measurements, the corrections were made for the effects of γ-ray self-absorption in the foils, dead-time, coincidence summing, fluctuation of neutron flux, low energy neutrons. For this reaction, statistical model calculation, which the pre-equilibrium emission effects were taken into consideration, were also performed between 13.57 and 14.83 MeV energy range. The cross sections were compared with previous works in literature, with model calculation results, and with evaluation data bases (ENDF/B-VII, ENDF/B-VI, JEFF-3.1, JENDL-4.0, JENDL-3.3, and ROSFOND-2010).

► Measurements of neutron activation cross sections 232Th(n,2n)231Th reaction.
► Cross sections are measured at five neutron energies from 13.57 and 14.83 MeV.
► The activation technique was used as irradiation and counting method.
► Corrections for gamma ray attenuation, neutron flux fluctuation, low energy neutron.
► Model calculations by the code STAPRE and comparison to the measured cross sections.