Eur. Phys. J. A (2021) 57: 268
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-021-00578-6

Regular Article - Experimental Physics

Fast-neutron induced reaction cross section measurement of tin with dual monitor foils and covariance analysis

¹ Department of Nuclear and Atomic Physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 400005, Mumbai, India
² Department of Physics, Banaras Hindu University, 221005, Varanasi, India
³ Nuclear Data Section, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, A-1400, Wien, Austria
⁴ Department of Physics, University of Calicut, 673635, Calicut, Kerala, India
⁵ India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 400005, Mumbai, India
⁶ Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, 400094, Mumbai, India
⁷ Bhabha Atomic Research Center, 400085, Mumbai, India
⁸ Department of Physics, Bangalore University, 560056, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
⁹ PQM-lab, The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, 411007, Pune, India
¹⁰ Department of Physics, Bengaluru City University, 560001, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

^a pcrl.bec@gmail.com, rebecca24@bhu.ac.in

Received: 26 May 2021
Accepted: 26 August 2021
Published online: 6 September 2021

Abstract

The fast-neutron induced elemental cross sections have been measured relative to the ${}^{197}$Au(n,2n)${}^{196}$Au and ${}^{27}$Al(n,$\alpha$)${}^{24}$Na monitor cross sections at 14.5 ± 0.2 MeV by using a natural Sn sample and the activation technique for production of ${}^{111}$Sn, ${}^{117}$Sn${}^m$, ${}^{123}$Sn${}^m$, ${}^{111}$In (cumulative), ${}^{116}$In${}^{m1+m2}$, ${}^{117}$In${}^m$, ${}^{117}$In${}^g$ (cumulative), and ${}^{118}$In${}^{m1+m2}$. The off-diagonal weighted mean of the elemental cross sections were determined by constructing the covariance between the cross sections obtained with the two monitor cross sections. From the measured elemental cross sections, the respective isotopic cross sections were also determined for the ${}^{112}$Sn(n,2n)${}^{111}$Sn, ${}^{124}$Sn(n,2n)${}^{123}$Sn${}^m$, ${}^{112}$Sn(n,x)${}^{111}$In and ${}^{118}$Sn(n,p)${}^{118}$In${}^{m1+m2}$ reactions. The comparison of the measured elemental and isotopic cross sections with those in the EXFOR, JEFF-3.1/A, JENDL/AD-2017 and TENDL-2019 libraries as well as those predicted by TALYS-1.9 is discussed.