Evaluation of excitation functions of the 68,67,66Zn(p,xn)68,67,66Ga and 67Zn(p,α)64Cu reactions: Validation of evaluated data through comparison with experimental excitation functions of the natZn(p,x)66,67Ga and natZn(p,x)64Cu processes

Experimentally available cross section data for formation of the radionuclides 68Ga, 67Ga, 66Ga and 64Cu in proton induced reactions on enriched 68Zn, 67Zn and 66Zn were evaluated by comparison with the excitation functions calculated by the nuclear model codes, EMPIRE and TALYS, followed by statistical fitting of the selected data. The recommended cross sections were used to obtain the integral yields. The validation of the recommended excitation functions was also attempted by normalization to natZn and comparison with the experimental data for the natZn(p,x)67Ga, natZn(p,x)66Ga and natZn(p,x)64Cu processes.