Measurement of neutron and Bremsstrahlung induced activation cross-section for tantalum with statistical error analysis

Tantalum is used as Bremsstrahlung target in Medical LINACs. ¹⁸⁰Ta has importance in nuclear physics as it is a classic example of spin trap isotope. The natural Tantalum consists of two isotopes, namely, ^180mTa and ¹⁸¹Ta with isotopic abundance 0.012% and 99.988% respectively. ¹⁸¹Ta is a stable isotope, while ^180mTa is in the meta stable state that decays to ¹⁸⁰Ta by isomeric transition. Neutron and Bremsstrahlung-induced activation cross-sections of tantalum are needed as it is very crucial for both, nuclear fission and fusion applications as well as nuclear database. In the present work, we have reported the activation cross-sections for tantalum induced by neutron and Bremsstrahlung radiation. Results are in good agreement with literature and theory. The results are important for nuclear database EXFOR