Determination of the cross section for (n,p) and (n,α) reactions on 165Ho at 13.5 and 14.8 MeV

Activation cross-sections for the 165Ho(n,p)165Dy and 165Ho(n,α)162Tb reactions were measured by means of the activation method at 13.5 and 14.8 MeV, to resolve inconsistencies in existing data. A neutron beam produced via the 3H(d,n)4He reaction was used. Statistical model calculations were performed 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. Results are also discussed and compared with some corresponding values found in the literature. The calculational results on the 165Ho(n,α)162Tb reaction agreed fairly well with experimental data, but there were large discrepancies in the results for the 165Ho(n,p)165Dy reaction.