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

• Neutron cross-sections have been measured for different Ytterbium Isotopes at (14.6±0.3) MeV.
• Among them two cross-sections natYb (n,x)172,173Tm are reported for the first time.
• A fast rabbit system suitable for cyclic irradiations has been used for short-lived activities.
• Theoretical calculations have done using EMPIRE-3.0 and TALYS-1.2 codes.

The cross-sections of natYb (n,x)172,173 Tm, 174Yb(n,p) 174 Tm, 174Yb (n,α) 171Er, 176Yb(n,p) 176 Tm, 176Yb(n,α)173 Er, and 176 Yb(n,n′)176mYb have been measured at 14.6±0.3 MeV neutron energy, among them two cross-sections natYb (n,x)172,173Tm are reported for the first time. These experimental cross-sections are compared with experimental data found in the literature, with evaluated nuclear data in JENDL-4.0 and TENDL-2010 libraries and with theoretically calculated values based on nuclear reaction modular codes EMPIRE-3.0 and TALYS-1.2.