Methodology of 63Cu(n,2n)62Cu Reaction Rate Measurement

Abstract

This paper presents the measurement of the spectrum-averaged cross section (SACS) of 63Cu(n,2n)62Cu reaction in 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron spectrum. The SACS in the 252Cf spectrum was chosen as a validation tool since 252Cf is the only standard neutron field and 62Cu isotope is not easy to measure by gamma spectroscopy since the gamma line of interest is an annihilation peak, which is also produced by 64Cu isotope. Fortunately, contributions to the annihilation peak from these isotopes can be distinguished due to the very different half-lives. SACS was inferred from the experimental reaction rate. The SACS in the 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron field for the 63Cu(n,2n)62Cu reaction was determined as equal to (0.1763 ± 0.0077 mb). This value agrees with value (0.183 ± 0.007) × 10−3 b within uncertainty presented by W. Mannhart. However, it differs by 12.7% from IRDFF-II value, which is equal to (0.19874 ± 8.954 10−3) × 10−3 b. Furthermore, reasonable agreement is not achieved with ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, CENDL-3.1, ROSFOND-2010, nor JENDL-4.0 nuclear data libraries.