Activation cross-sections of proton induced reactions on $^{nat}$Hf in the 38 to 65 MeV energy range. Production of $^{172}$Lu and of $^{169}$Yb

TL;DR

This study measured activation cross sections for proton-induced reactions on natural hafnium in the 38 to 65 MeV range, providing experimental data and comparing it with theoretical models to improve understanding of isotope production.

Contribution

It provides new experimental excitation functions for multiple isotopes produced from proton reactions on hafnium, and compares these with theoretical predictions to validate and refine nuclear reaction models.

Findings

Experimental cross sections obtained for various isotopes.

Comparison shows good agreement with some models, discrepancies with others.

Data supports optimized production routes for specific isotopes.

Abstract

In the frame of a systematical study of light ion induced nuclear reactions on hafnium, activation cross sections for proton induced reactions were investigated. Excitation functions were measured in the 38 to 65 MeV energy range for the $^{nat}$Hf(p,xn)$^{180g,177,176,175,173}$Ta, $^{nat}$Hf(p,x)$^{180m,179m,175,173,172,171}$Hf, $^{177g,173,172,171,170,169}$Lu and $^{nat}$Hf(p,x)$^{169}$Yb reactions by using the activation method, combining stacked foil irradiation and off line gamma ray spectroscopy. The experimental results are compared with earlier results in the overlapping energy range, and with the theoretical predictions of the ALICE IPPE and EMPIRE theoretical codes and of the TALYS code reported in the TENDL2015 and TENDL2017 libraries. The production routes of $^{172}$Lu (and its parent $^{172}$Hf) and of $^{169Y}$b are reviewed.