Empirical evidence for shell effects in (n,p)- and (n,α)-reaction cross sections induced by 14 MeV neutrons

Abstract Cross section values for (n,p)-and (n,α)-reactions have been analysed as functions of the proton and neutron numbers of the target nuclei. When these numbers equal or approach those of a closed shell structure, the cross section values tend to increase. Far from closed shells the cross sections are small.