Absolute Cross Sections of the ReactionsNa23(n, p)Ne23andNa23(n, α)F20

Abstract

The absolute cross sections for the competing reactions ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}(n, p){\mathrm{Ne}}^{23}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}(n, \alpha ){\mathrm{F}}^{20}$ have been measured over the energy range 4 to 19 Mev by the activation method using neutrons from the ${\mathrm{H}}^2(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^3$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$, ${\mathrm{C}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{N}}^{15}$, and ${\mathrm{H}}^3(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^4$ reactions. The excitation curves thus obtained are compared with theoretical results based upon the statistical theory. A fair fit is obtained for the ($n, p$) reaction, but serious discrepancies exist between the measured and calculated ($n, \alpha$) cross sections.