Gamma-Ray Production Cross Sections for Iron from 0.86 to 16.7 MeV

Gamma-ray production cross sections were measured for (n, xγ) reactions in natural iron from 0.86- to 16.74-MeV neutron energy using the IRT Linac pulsed-neutron source. The 847- and 1238-keV gamma-ray production cross sections are presented with very high neutron resolution. Also, cross sections for 13 principal gamma rays are given using 20 neutron-energy groups. Cross sections were determined for an additional 16 discrete gamma rays using 10 neutron-energy groups. In general, the cross sections for the discrete gamma rays are in agreement with previous measurements. The gamma-ray spectra for the 10 neutron-energy groups were also unfolded to obtain gamma-ray production cross sections for the sum of both discrete and continuum gamma rays. In the present work the continuum component constituted over half the total gamma-ray production cross sections above 8 MeV.