Anomalous 96Zr resonance integral to thermal activation cross-section ratio and the neutron activation resonance integral of 94Zr and 96Zr

Abstract

Values of the reduced activity resonance integral relative to the thermal cross section, I′/σ0, of 96Zr and 94Zr were determined relative to gold by measuring cadmium ratios in a reactor spectrum.Due to the anomalous characteristics of 96Zr a measurement of I′/σ0 for 96Zr was undertaken in a "quasi" thermal spectrum.96Zr and 94Zr activation resonance integrals were also determined by measuring the ratio of effective activation cross section of zirconium to 55Mn. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calibrated gamma sources were used to determine the samples' absolute activities. A lithium-drifted germanium γ-ray spectrometer was used in all cases to resolve the activities of the irradiated samples.The results for 96Zr are I′/σ0 = 879 ± 96, I′ = 4.97 ± 0.50 b, and σ0 = 5.7 ± 10 mb; for 94Zr I′/σ0 = 5.87 ± 0.05, I′ = 0.369 ± 0.037 b, and derived σ0 = 63 ± 8 mb.I′/σ0 for 96Zr is an order of magnitude or more greater than that found for stable isotopes. This suggests that almost 100% of the activation resonance integral of 96Zr consists of p-neutron captures. This fact is not consistent with the present knowledge of p-strength functions in the 90 < A < 130 mass region.