Measurements of isomeric cross sections for the (n,α) reaction on the ¹⁴²Nd isotope at approximately 14 MeV neutrons

In this study, the activation cross sections were measured for ¹⁴²Nd(n,α)^139mCe reaction at four neutron energies between 13.57 and 14.83 MeV, which were produced by a neutron generator through ³H(²H,n)⁴He reaction. The production of short-lived activity and the spectra accumulation were performed by the cyclic activation technique. Induced gamma-ray activities were measured using a high resolution gamma ray spectrometer equipped with a high-purity Germanium (HpGe) detector. In the cross section measurements, corrections were made regarding the effects of the gamma-ray attenuation, the dead-time, the fluctuation of the neutron flux, and low energy neutrons. The measured cross sections were compared with the published literature and the results of the model calculation (TALYS 1.4). - Highlights: • Neutron activation cross sections were measured for ¹⁴²Nd(n,α)^139mCe reaction. • Cross sections were measured at six different neutron energies around 14 MeV. • The cyclic activation technique was used as an irradiation and counting method. • Measured cross sections were compared model calculations with previous data