Gamma Resonances near Threshold for the Production of Thermal Photoneutrons

TL;DR

This paper investigates gamma-induced neutron resonances near threshold energies, estimating their cross sections and potential for generating thermal neutrons using gamma-ray beams.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of (gamma,n) resonance positions and upper limits for cross sections, aiding neutron production estimates.

Findings

Identified resonance positions for (gamma,n) reactions.

Estimated upper limits for integrated cross sections.

Assessed potential neutron yields from specific isotopes.

Abstract

We have determined the positions of the (gamma,n) resonances and upper limits for the integrated cross sections for the (gamma,n) reactions, using data for the inverse process (n,gamma). With the aid of these data we have estimated the number of low-energy neutrons which can be generated by the irradiation of a target with a gamma-ray beam. Among the reactions producing thermal neutrons via (gamma,n) reaction we mention 185Re(gamma,n)184Re with an upper limit of the integrated cross section of 2.4 b-eV, and 178Hf(gamma,n)177Hf with an upper limit of the integrated cross section of 0.9 b-eV.