The cross section for the 41K(n,p)41Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV

Activation techniques have been used to measure the cross section for the 41K(n,p)41 Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV. Neutrons were produced by the 3H(d,n)4He reaction, and the mixed-power method was used to measure the neutron flux through the 27Al(n,α)24Na reaction. The activated samples were counted for the 1294 keV, 1.827 h γ-activity of 41Ar and the 1369 keV, 15.03 h γ-activity of 24Na using a 16% Ge(Li) detector and a 4096-channel analyzer. The cross sections for the 41K(n,p)41Ar reaction using the mixed-power method were found to be 53+-3 mbarn at 14.2+-0.2 MeV, 47+-3 mbarn at 15.2+-0.2 MeV, 41+-3 mbarn at 16.2+-0.2 MeV and 36+-4 m barn at 17.2+-0.2 MeV. The associated-particle method was also used for measuring the neutron flux in order to check the mixed-powder result at 14.2 MeV. The average cross section for three associated-particle runs at 14.2 MeV was found to be 50+-3 mbarn which, within experimental error, agrees with the mixed-powder value. (author)