Transmutation of ¹²⁹I with High Energy Neutrons Produced in Spallation Reactions Induced by Protons in Massive Target

Abstract

We studied the yields of several short half-life iodine isotopes produced by transmutation of long half-life iodine isotopes obtained from nuclear reactor waste products. Transmutation was induced by high energy neutrons produced in a lead spallation target with relativistic primary protons (1, 3 and 2, 5 GeV). The yields were determined by analyses of γ-spectra of produced isotopes. The spatial distribution of high-energy neutron field surrounding the target was determined using the activation method. All experimental results were compared with Monte Carlo simulations provided by the LAHET code.

Keywords:

• spallation
• massive target
• high energy neutron field
• activation method
• transmutation
• iodine 129
• iodine 127
• (n, xn) reactions