Parameter Determination and Application to Nuclear Model Calculations of Neutron-Induced Reactions on Yttrium and Zirconium Isotopes

The mass region around A = 90 was chosen for examination of the validity of nuclear models and input-parameter determination techniques often used to meet nuclear data requirements where no experimental data exist. Consistent sets of input parameters, determined through analysis of independent data available in this mass region, were applied to the calculation of all major neutron reactions on ⁸⁹Y and ⁹⁰Zr occurring between 0.05 and 20 MeV. These parameters were then tested under even more stringent conditions through calculation and comparison to experimental data on unstable target nuclei available for neutron energies of 14 to 15 MeV. These calculations, both on stable and unstable nuclei, serve to indicate that reliable cross-section predictions can be obtained from nuclear models that use carefully determined parameters verified in concurrent comparisons to available experimental data.