Excitation of long living isomers 107m,109m Ag in the fast neutron inelastic scattering reactions

The cross sections for excitation of 107m,109m Ag isomeric states are measured in the reactions of inelastic scattering of reactor fast neutrons. The measurements were performed on the rabbit tube 'Regata' of the IBR-2 reactor (JINR, Dubna). The method consisted in comparing the γ-line intensities of silver isomers with the 103m Rh isomer irradiated in the same neutron flux. The cross sections of 103 Rh are well known in wide range of neutron energy. The measured values are the following: σ(107m Ag) = 204 ± 18 mb, σ(109m Ag) = 262 ± 26 mb. The estimate is made of the possible yield of 109m Ag isomeric nuclei if one uses the high-current proton accelerator with heavy target to produce fast neutrons in reactions of spallation. (authors)