Cross-section measurements of the (n,2n) and (n,p) reactions on 124,126,128,130,131,132Xe in the 14 MeV region and theoretical calculations of their excitation functions

Abstract The reaction cross-sections of 124Xe(n, 2n)123Xe, 126Xe(n, 2n)125Xe, 128Xe(n, 2n)127Xe, 130Xe(n, 2n)129mXe, 132Xe(n, 2n)131mXe, 130Xe(n, p)130I, 131Xe(n, p)131I, and 132Xe(n, p)132I were measured at the 13.5, 13.8, 14.1, 14.4, and 14.8 MeV neutron energies. The monoenergetic neutrons were generated through the 3H(d,n)4He reaction at the China Academy of Engineering Physics using the K-400 Neutron Generator with a solid 3H-Ti target. A high-purity germanium detector was used to measure the activities of the product. The reactions 93Nb(n, 2n)92mNb and 27Al(n, α)24Na served for neutron flux calibration. The cross sections of the (n,2n) and (n,p) reactions of the xenon isotopes were acquired within the 13–15 MeV neutron energy range. These cross-sections were then compared with the IAEA-exchange format (EXFOR) database-derived experimental data together with the evaluation results of the CENDL-3, ENDF/B-VIII.0, JENDL-4.0, RUSFOND, and JEFF-3.3 data libraries as well as the theoretical excitation function obtained using the TALYS-1.95 code. The cross-sections of the reactions (except for the 124Xe(n, 2n)123Xe and 132Xe(n, p)132I) at 13.5, 13.8, and 14.1 MeV are reported for the first time in this work. The present results are helpful to provide better cross-section constraints for these reactions in the 13–15 MeV region, thus improving the quality of the corresponding database. Meanwhile, these data can also be used for the verification of relevant nuclear reaction model parameters.