Measurement of cross-sections of (n, 2n) and (γ, n) nuclear reactions for ¹⁶⁵Ho target with statistical error analysis

Holmium is an important rare earth element with high thermal neutron absorption cross-section making it suitable for the use as neutron absorber in a nuclear reactor. Besides there are various other applications of Holmium element such as lasers, magnetic materials and as a therapeutic medical isotope. The knowledge of cross-section data of various elements related to the components of fission and fusion reactors are important for the development of the technology. In the present work we have measured the formation cross-section of ¹⁶⁵Ho (n, 2n)¹⁶⁴Ho and ¹⁶⁵Ho (n, 2n)¹⁶⁴mHo nuclear reactions at 14.77 MeV neutron energy and flux weighted average cross-sections of ¹⁶⁵Ho (γ, n)¹⁶⁴Ho and ¹⁶⁵Ho (γ, n)^164mHo nuclear reactions at 10 and 15 MeV bremsstrahlung end point energy using offline gamma spectroscopy