Determination of the ${}^{193}$Ir(n, 2n) reaction cross section and correction methodology for the ${}^{191}$Ir(n,$\gamma$) contamination

The cross section of the ${}^{193}$Ir(n, 2n)${}^{192}$Ir reaction has been determined by means of the activation technique, relative to the ${}^{27}$Al (n,$\alpha$) and ${}^{197}$Au(n, 2n) reference reactions cross sections, at neutron beam energies ranging from 10 to 21 MeV. The quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams were produced at the 5.5 MV Tandem T11/25 Accelerator Laboratory of NCSR "Demokritos" via the ${}^2$H(d, n) and ${}^3$H(d, n) reactions. The induced $\gamma$-ray activity of the irradiated target and reference foils was measured with high resolution HPGe detectors. In order to correct for the contribution of the ${}^{191}$Ir(n,$\gamma$)${}^{192}$Ir reaction, which is open to low energy parasitic neutrons, a recently developed analysis method was implemented and it is presented in great detail. Furthermore, cross section theoretical calculations were carried out using the EMPIRE and TALYS codes over a wide energy range.