Cross-sections for the ${^{27}\!\rm{Al}}(\gamma,\textit{x})^{24}\rm{Na}$ multiparticle reaction at $E_{\rm{\gamma max}}$ = 40 $\div$ 95 MeV

TL;DR

This study measures photonuclear cross-sections for aluminum-27 reactions at energies 40-95 MeV, compares experimental data with theoretical models, and explores using this reaction for bremsstrahlung flux monitoring.

Contribution

First measurement of bremsstrahlung flux-averaged cross-sections for $^{27}$Al at energies 40-95 MeV using gamma-activation and comparison with TALYS predictions.

Findings

Measured cross-sections are 2.0 to 2.4 times higher than theoretical predictions.

Experimental results agree with other laboratories' data.

Discussed the reaction's potential for bremsstrahlung flux monitoring.

Abstract

The bremsstrahlung flux-averaged cross-sections $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})}\rangle$ and the cross-sections per equivalent photon $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})_{\rm{Q}}}\rangle$ were measured for the photonuclear multiparticle reaction $^{27}\!\rm{Al}(\gamma,\textit{x}; \textit{x} = {^{3}\rm{He}} + pd + 2pn)^{24}\rm{Na}$ at bremsstrahlung end-point energies ranging from 40 MeV to 95 MeV. The experiments were performed using the beam from the NSC KIPT electron linear accelerator LUE-40 with the use of the $\gamma$-activation technique. The bremsstrahlung quantum flux was calculated with the program GEANT4 and, in addition, was monitored by means of the $^{100}\rm{Mo}(\gamma,n)^{99}\rm{Mo}$ reaction. The cross-sections $\sigma(E)$ were computed using the TALYS1.9 code with the default options. The measured average cross-sections $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})}\rangle$ and $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})_{\rm{Q}}}\rangle$ have appeared to be higher by factors of 2.0 to 2.4 than the theoretical results. The experimental results have been found to be in good agreement with the data of other laboratories. Consideration is given to special features of calculation of $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})}\rangle$ and $\langle{\sigma(E_{\rm{\gamma max}})_{\rm{Q}}}\rangle$ for the $^{27}\!\rm{Al}(\gamma,\textit{x})^{24}\rm{Na}$ reaction, with occurrence of three $^{27}\!\rm{Al}$ photodisintegration channels. The paper also discusses the possibility of using the $^{27}\!\rm{Al}(\gamma,\textit{x})^{24}\rm{Na}$ reaction for monitoring the bremsstrahlung $\gamma$-quantum flux in the photon energy region above 30 MeV.