Thermal-neutron cross sections and resonance integrals of 138Ba and 141Pr using Am-Be neutron source

The thermal-neutron capture cross sections and resonance integrals of Ba-138(n,gamma) Ba-139 and Pr-141(n,gamma)Pr-142 were measured by activation method using an isotopic Am-Be neutron source. The estimations were with respect to that of Mn-55(n,gamma)Mn-56 and Au-197(n,gamma)Au-198 reference monitors. The measured thermal-capture cross section of Ba-138 with respect to Mn-55 is 0.410 +/- 0.023 b and with respect to Au-197 is 0.386 +/- 0.019 b. The measured thermal-capture cross section of Pr-141 with respect to Mn-55 is 11.36 +/- 1.29 b and with respect to Au-197 is 10.43 +/- 1.14 b. The resonance integrals for Ba-138 are 0.380+/-0.033 b (Mn-55) and 0.364+/-0.027 b (Au-197) and for Pr-141 are 21.05+/-2.88 b (Mn-55) and 15.27+/-1.87 b (Au-197). The comparison between the present measurements and various reported values are discussed. The cross sections corresponding to the selected isotopes are measured using an Am-Be source facility for the first time.