Measurements of isomeric cross sections for the (n,α) reaction on the 142Nd isotope at approximately 14 MeV neutrons

In this study, the activation cross sections were measured for 142Nd(n,α)139mCe reaction at four neutron energies between 13.57 and 14.83 MeV, which were produced by a neutron generator through 3H(2H,n)4He reaction. The production of short-lived activity and the spectra accumulation were performed by the cyclic activation technique. Induced gamma-ray activities were measured using a high resolution gamma ray spectrometer equipped with a high-purity Germanium (HpGe) detector. In the cross section measurements, corrections were made regarding the effects of the gamma-ray attenuation, the dead-time, the fluctuation of the neutron flux, and low energy neutrons. The measured cross sections were compared with the published literature and the results of the model calculation (TALYS 1.4).