Excitation functions and isotopic effects in (n,p) reactions for stable iron isotopes from reaction threshold to 20 MeV

TL;DR

This study calculates (n,p) reaction excitation functions for stable iron isotopes up to 20 MeV using the Talys code, validating nuclear models and analyzing isotopic effects and reaction mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal-parameter approach to accurately model (n,p) reactions on iron isotopes, enhancing predictive nuclear reaction modeling.

Findings

Excellent agreement between calculations and experimental data.

Systematic decrease in (n,p) cross-sections with increasing neutron number.

Pre-equilibrium processes explain isotopic effects.

Abstract

The excitation functions for (n,p) reactions from reaction threshold to 20 MeV on four stable Iron isotopes viz; 54Fe,56Fe,57Fe and 58Fe were calculated using Talys-1.2 nuclear model code, this essentially involves fitting a set of global parameters. An excellent agreement between the calculated and experimental data is obtained with minimal effort on parameter fitting and only one free parameter called 'Shell damping factor' has been adjusted. This is very importance to the validation of nuclear model approaches with increased predictive power. The systematic decrease in (n, p) cross-sections with increasing neutron number in reactions induced by neutrons on isotopes of iron is explained in terms of the pre-equilibrium model. The compound nucleus and pre-equilibrium reaction mechanism as well as the isotopic effects were also studied extensively.