Determination of the cross section for (n,p) reaction with producing short-lived nuclei on the 162,163Dy isotopes at 13.5 and 14.8 MeV

• The cross sections for the 162Dy(n,p)162Tb and 163Dy(n,p)163Tb have been measured.
• 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb was used as a monitor for neutron fluence.
• Codes TALYS-1.6 and EMPIRE-3.2 Malta were used to model the reactions.
• The results were compared with previous data.
• Inconsistency with previous data and with model calculations are noted.

Activation cross-sections for the 162Dy(n,p)162Tb and 163Dy(n,p)163Tb reactions have been measured by means of the activation technique and a coaxial HPGe γ-ray detector at 13.5 and 14.8 MeV. The fast neutrons were produced via the 3H(d,n)4He reaction on Pd-300 neutron generator. The natural high-purity Dy2O3 powder was used as target material. Theoretical excitation functions were calculated using the nuclear-reaction codes EMPIRE-3.2 Malta and TALYS-1.6 with default parameters, at neutron energies varying from the reaction threshold to 20 MeV. The results were also discussed and compared with some corresponding values found in the literature, with the comprehensive evaluation data in ENDF/B-VII.1 and JENDF-4.0 libraries, and with the estimates obtained from a published empirical formula based on the statistical model with Q-value dependence and odd–even effects taken into consideration.