Uncertainty propagation and covariance analysis of 181Ta(n,{\gamma})182Ta nuclear reaction

TL;DR

This paper reports experimental measurements of the neutron capture cross-section of $^{181}$Ta at specific energies, including uncertainty analysis and comparison with existing data and evaluated nuclear data libraries.

Contribution

It provides new experimental cross-section data for $^{181}$Ta(n,γ)$^{182}$Ta at 0.53 and 1.05 MeV, with detailed uncertainty and covariance analysis.

Findings

Measured cross-sections at 0.53 and 1.05 MeV.

Compared results with existing data and evaluated libraries.

Analyzed uncertainties and correlation matrices.

Abstract

The neutron capture cross-section for the $^{181}$Ta(n,$\gamma$)$^{182}$Ta reaction has been experimentally measured at the neutron energies 0.53 and 1.05 MeV using off-line $\gamma$-ray spectrometry. $^{115}$In(n,n'$\gamma$)$^{115m}$In is used as a reference monitor reaction cross-section. The neutron was produced via the $^{7}$Li(p,n)$^{7}$Be reaction. The present study measures the cross-sections with their uncertainties and correlation matrix. The self-attenuation process, $\gamma$-ray correction factor, and low background neutron energy contribution have been calculated. The measured neutron spectrum averaged cross-sections of $^{181}$Ta(n,$\gamma$)$^{182}$Ta are discussed and compared with the existing data from the EXFOR database and also with the ENDF/B-VIII.0, TENDL-2019, JENDL-5, JEFF-3.3 evaluated data libraries.