Cross Sections for Charged Particle Reactions Induced in Medium Weight Nuclei by Neutrons in the Energy Range 12-18 MeV

Abstract

Data are presented for ($n, p$) cross sections in ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{24}$, ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$, ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{48}$, and ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{64}$; and ($n, \alpha$) reactions in ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$, ${\mathrm{P}}^{31}$, ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$, and ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$. The neutron energy range was from 12 to 18 MeV. The experimental results are compared with statistical model calculations using an energy dependence of the level density of the form $\exp \left[2\mathrm{}{\left(a{E}^{*}\right)}^{\frac{1}{2}}\right]$. Results of this comparison show that with the proper choice of the level-density and pairing-energy parameters the statistical model theory gives total ($n, p$) and ($n, \alpha$) cross-section values in fair agreement with the experimental data. However, some of the parameters show marked deviations from expected trends.