Deuteron-induced reactions on natZr up to 60 MeV

Background: The deuteron weak binding energy is responsible for high complexity of the deuteron interaction with nuclei that involves also a variety of reactions initiated by the nucleons following the deuteron breakup (BU). An update of both the scarce experimental deuteron database and the incomplete theoretical frame of the deuteron activation analysis is thus needed. Removal of discrepancies between experimental data, and a consistent inclusion of BU as well as of stripping and pickup direct reactions (DR) contributions within deuteron activation analysis, besides preequilibrium emission (PE) and fully equilibrated compound nucleus (CN) decay, are essential, too. Purpose: Accurate new measurements of low-energy deuteron-induced reaction cross sections for natural Zr target are intended to enhance the related database and the opportunity for a unitary and consistent account of BU, DR, PE, and CN involved reaction mechanisms. Methods: The activation cross sections of 90,91m,92m,94m,95m,95g,96,97Nb, 89m,89,95,97Zr, and 87m,87g,87,88,90m,91m,94Y nuclei in deuteron-induced reactions on Zr at energies up to 20 MeV were measured by the stacked-foil technique and high-resolution gamma spectrometry using the U-120M cyclotron of the Center of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods (CANAM) infrastructure of the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (NPI CAS). Their extended analysis, together with all available data for deuteron interactions with Zr isotopes up to 60 MeV, has included every process from elastic scattering until CN evaporation, with particular attention paid to BU and DR mechanisms. Results: Newly measured activation excitation functions proved essential for the deuteron database, while analysis of all available data strengthens their consistent account provided that (i) suitable BU and DR assessment is completed by (ii) PE and CN contributions corrected for total-reaction cross-section decrease due to the leakage of the initial deuteron flux towards BU and DR processes. Conclusions: The suitable description of nuclear mechanisms involved within deuteron-induced reactions on Zr, especially the BU and DR processes, is validated by overall agreement of the calculated and measured cross sections including the new experimental data at low energies.

Automated summary

The study aims to enhance the database of deuteron-induced reactions by accurately measuring low-energy reaction cross sections, achieving a unified and consistent account of mechanisms such as deuteron breakup, direct reactions, pre-equilibrium emission, and compound nucleus decay.