Measurement of (n, p) cross section for some structural materials at 14.2 MeV

The (n, p) reaction cross section for some structural materials such as 75As, 66Zn, 64Zn, 55Mn, 51V and 58Ni was measured at 14.2±0.2 MeV using activation and off line gamma ray spectroscopic technique. For the purpose of safe and economical design of reactors, the neutron cross section data for structural materials are required with high precession and accuracy. The neutron cross section data for important structural materials are collected and evaluated systematically and data files are prepared for the reactor design. However, considerably large discrepancies exist among different evaluated nuclear data files. Hence there is a need to study these reactions with better accuracy. The results were compared with existing data available in EXFOR data base. The measured cross sections were also estimated theoretically using nuclear modular codes: TALYS-1.6 and EMPIRE-3.2.2.