Measurement of fast neutron induced (n,γ) reaction cross-section of Zn, Zr, Sb and Sb in the energy range of 1 to 2 MeV.

The (n,γ) reaction cross-section for the elements Zn, Zr, Sb and Sb, present in the reactor structural/shielding materials, was measured by neutron activation technique in the neutron energy region of 1-2 MeV as very limited data is available in this energy range. Further, the neutron spectrum peaks in this energy region for the fast breeder reactors and proposed accelerator driven sub-critical systems. The natural strontium (Sr) element was used as a neutron flux monitor by considering effective combined reaction cross-section for Sr(n,γ)Sr and Sr(n,n')Sr reactions. The pellets of mixture of sample and monitor were irradiated by a quasi-mono energetic fast neutron beam, generated by Li(p,n)Be reaction at FOTIA, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India. The activity of activation products was measured by off-line gamma-ray spectrometry using High Purity Germanium Detector (HPGe). The present data with improved uncertainty and covariance analysis enhance the cross-section data base for better constraining the evaluated data and theoretical models. The theoretical (n,γ) reaction cross-sections were calculated using TALYS 1.96, which could reasonably explain the present data with the Fermi gas level density prescription.