Cross sections for (n, 2n), (n, p), (n, a) and (n, n′) reactions on hafnium isotopes around the neutron energy of 14 MeV

In view of the fact that the fast-neutron experimental cross-section data of hafnium which is an important structural material of fusion reactor are few and there are the great differences in their evaluation values, several activation cross sections of (n, 2n), (n, p), (n, a) and (n, n′) reactions on hafnium isotopes have been investigated by neutrons generated from the T(d, n)⁴He reaction at the K-400 Neutron Generator at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The gamma activities of the product nuclei were measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with a coaxial high-purity germanium detector. The ⁹³Nb(n, 2n)^92mNb reaction was used as neutron fluence standard, these experimental cross sections of the ¹⁷⁴Hf(n, 2n)¹⁷³Hf, ¹⁷⁶Hf(n, 2n)¹⁷⁵Hf, ¹⁷⁸Hf(n, α)^175m+gYb, ¹⁷⁸Hf(n, p)^178gLu, ¹⁷⁸Hf(n, p)^178mLu, ¹⁸⁰Hf(n, 2n)^179m2Hf, ¹⁸⁰Hf(n, α)^177m+gYb and ¹⁸⁰Hf(n, n′)^180mHf reactions were obtained in the neutron energy range of 13.5–14.8 MeV. These measured cross sections were discussed and compared with some previous experimental results from the literature and with the evaluation data from ENDF/B-VIII.0, CENDL-3.1, JEFF-3.3 and the theoretical results by using the computer code system Talys-1.9. (paper)