https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2013-13143-3
Regular Article - Experimental Physics
Neutron capture studies of 206Pb at a cold neutron beam
1
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B - 2440, Geel, Belgium
2
Centre for Energy Research, Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety, H-1525, Budapest, Hungary
3
SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, B - 2400, Mol, Belgium
4
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nuclear Data Section, Wagramerstraße 5, PO Box 100, A-1400, Vienna, Austria
5
Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, I-40129, Bologna, Italy
* e-mail: peter.schillebeeckx@ec.europa.eu
Received:
9
July
2013
Accepted:
10
October
2013
Published online:
19
November
2013
Gamma-ray transitions following neutron capture in 206Pb have been studied at the cold neutron beam facility of the Budapest Neutron Centre using a metallic sample enriched in 206Pb and a natural lead nitrate powder pellet. The measurements were performed using a coaxial HPGe detector with Compton suppression. The observed 
-rays have been incorporated into a decay scheme for neutron capture in 206Pb . Partial capture cross sections for 206Pb(n,) at thermal energy have been derived relative to the cross section for the 1884keV transition after neutron capture in 14N . From the average crossing sum a total thermal neutron capture cross section of 
mb was derived for the 206Pb(n,) reaction. The thermal neutron capture cross section for 206Pb has been compared with contributions due to both direct capture and distant unbound s-wave resonances. From the same measurements a thermal neutron-induced capture cross section of 
mb was determined for the 207Pb(n,) reaction.
© SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2013
