Measurements and analysis of 178m2Hf production cross sections under natTa and natW irradiation by protons with 0.04-2.6 GeV energies

This paper presents the results of experimental determination and computational simulation of the independent cross sections of 178m2Hf production in natTa and natW thin targets irradiated by mono-energetic proton beams in the energy range from ∼0.04 up to 2.6 GeV. The cross sections were determined using the γ-spectrometry technique without chemical separation of irradiated samples. The obtained experimental results were compared with the results of simulations based on the modified CEM03.03-ext intranuclear cascade model, which allows to analyze both the cross sections of residual nuclei production and the probabilities of long-lived isomeric states formation. Verification of the isomeric yield calculation model was demonstrated based on experimental data on high-spin isomer production cross sections in 208Pb target irradiated by protons.