Discrete Gamma Radiation in Interaction of 14.9-MeV Neutrons with Natural Copper

Abstract

The discrete gamma radiation in the interaction of 14.9-MeV neutrons and a natural copper sample is investigated with the total gamma radiation measurement technique. One hundred seven prompt gamma rays, which come mainly from the reactions (n,n’γ), (n,2nγ), (n,npγ), (n,dγ), (n,pγ) and (n,αγ) of ⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu, are identified by a high-resolution gamma-ray analysis code. According to the systematic knowledge of 14.9-MeV neutron-induced ^63,65Cu(n,xγ) reactions, nine final nuclei are identified, and 139 possible transitions are designated. The differential elemental production cross sections of 107 gamma lines at 90 deg and 79 gamma lines at 55 deg are determined. The nine integral isotopic cross sections of 11 reaction channels including ⁶³Cu(n,n’)⁶³Cu, ⁶³Cu(n,2n)⁶²Cu, ⁶³Cu[(n,np) + (n,d)]⁶²Ni, ⁶³Cu(n,p)⁶³Ni, ⁶³Cu(n,α)⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Cu(n,n’)⁶⁵Cu, ⁶⁵Cu(n,2n)⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁵Cu[(n,np) + (n,d)]⁶⁴Ni, and ⁶⁵Cu(n,p)⁶⁵Ni are also obtained. The present results are in good agreement with some recent experimental and evaluated results.