Thermal-neutron capture cross-section measurement of Tantalum-181 using graphite thermal column at KUR. Issue 10 (3rd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi
• Is Part Of: Journal of nuclear science and technology. Volume 58:Issue 10(2021)
• Page Start: 1061
• Page End: 1070
• Publication Date: 2021-10-03
• Subjects: Tantalum-181 -- thermal-neutron capture cross-section -- flux monitor -- activation method -- Westcott's convention -- TC-Pn -- Kyoto University research reactor; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; Nuclear physics -- Periodicals; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1080/00223131.2021.1908187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3131

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Using an activation method with a well-thermalized neutron field, it is principally possible to drive a thermal-neutron capture cross-section without considering an epithermal neutron component. We demonstrated neutron capture cross-section measurements using the graphite thermal column (TC-Pn) of the Kyoto University Research Reactor. First, in order to confirm that the graphite thermal column was a well-thermalized neutron field, neutron irradiation was performed with neutron flux monitors: 197 Au, 59 Co, 45 Sc, 63 Cu, and 98 Mo. The TC-Pn was confirmed to be extremely thermalized on the basis of Westcott's convention, because the thermal-neutron flux component took a constant value regardless of the sensitivity of each flux monitor to epithermal neutrons. Next, as a demonstration, the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of 181 Ta(n, γ) 182m+g Ta reaction was measured using the graphite thermal column, and then derived to be 20.5 ± 0.4 barn, which supported the evaluated value of 20.4 ± 0.3 barn. The 181 Ta nuclide could be useful as a flux monitor that complements the sensitivity between 197 Au and 98 Mo monitors.