Activation Cross Sections of Neutron Threshold Reactions on Some Zirconium Isotopes in the 5.4- to 10.6-MeV Energy Range

Cross sections were measured for the first time in the 5.4- to 10.6-MeV energy range for the ⁹⁰Zr(n,p)^90mY, ⁹¹ Zr(n,p)^9lmY, ⁹²Zr(n,p)⁹²Y, ⁹⁰Zr(n,a)^87mSr, ⁹⁴Zr(n,α)⁹¹Sr, and ⁹⁶Zr(n,2n)⁹⁵Zr reactions. The quasi-monoenergetic neutrons were produced via the ²H(d,n)³He reaction using a deuterium gas target at a variable energy compact cyclotron. Use was made of the activation technique in combination with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. Some trends in the excitation functions are discussed.