Cross-sections and isomeric ratios for the 136Xe(n,2n)135m,gXe reactions in the 14 MeV region with covariance analysis

The neutron activation cross-section and ratios of the isomeric cross-section (sigma(m)/sigma(g)) in Xe-136(n,2n)Xe-135m,Xe-g reactions were measured according to the Nb-93(n,2n)Nb-92m reference reaction cross-section within the range for neutron spectrum energy 13-15 MeV. High purity and high-pressure natural xenon gas was used as the target sample. Neutrons were generated through the reaction of T(d,n)He-4. A lead-shielded HPGe detector was used to measure the gamma-ray spectra of the residue product. In the experiment, the true coincidence summing effect, sample counting geometry, the solid angle of the neutron flux, and self-attenuation of the characteristics gamma-ray were corrected. A detailed covariance analysis has been performed by using the uncertainty propagation, while the measured cross-sections are being reported with their correlation matrix and uncertainties. Moreover, theoretical calculations were carried out on the TALYS-1.95 platform to obtain the reactions' cross-sections of Xe-136(n,2n)Xe-135m,Xe-g compositions. Subsequently, the data from the measured cross-sections were compared to the theoretical values, the evaluation data, and the previous experimental results.

Automated summary

This study measured the neutron activation cross-section and ratios of the isomeric cross-section in Xe-136(n,2n)Xe-135m,Xe-g reactions. The measurements were conducted using high purity and high-pressure natural xenon gas as the target sample, and corrections and covariance analysis were performed. Theoretical calculations were also carried out and compared to previous experimental results.