Fast-neutron induced pre-equilibrium reactions on 55Mn and 63,65Cu at energies up to 40 MeV

The experimental cross sections for all neutron-induced reactions on the stable isotopes of Mn and Cu at incident energies up to 40 MeV are compared with results of pre-equilibrium (PE) and statistical model calculations. Taking advantage of the large sensitivity of statistical model analysis to residual nuclei parameters, for energies up to 20 MeV, our work was then focused on assessing PE model assumptions by data analysis in the energy range 20-40 MeV. The PE model reliance on the nuclear potential finite-depth correction for description of particle-hole state densities (PSD), nuclear-shell effects within the PSD formula, and single-particle level density is thus discussed with regard to the whole data basis. The related variance of the model results has been found as large as the differences between the global and local model calculations, while the data basis available between 20 and 40 MeV for the Mn and Cu isotopes is however too scarce in this respect. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.