¹⁶⁹Tm(n,2n)¹⁶⁸Tm Cross Sections from the Threshold to 20 MeV

The cross sections of the ¹⁶⁹Tm(n,2n)¹⁶⁸Tm reaction induced by neutrons with energies of ∼14 MeV were determined combining the activation technique with the latest decay data. Fast neutrons were produced by using a neutron generator at the China Academy of Engineering Physics, through the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction. Induced gamma activities were measured by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Data for ¹⁶⁹Tm(n,2n)¹⁶⁸Tm reaction cross sections are reported to be 1827 ± 95 and 1926 ± 82 mb at 13.5 ± 0.2 and 14.8 ± 0.2 MeV incident neutron energies, respectively. The cross sections were also estimated with the TALYS-1.4 nuclear model code using different level density models, at neutron energies varying from the reaction threshold to 20 MeV. Results are also discussed and compared with some corresponding values found in the literature.