Measurement of the ⁵⁸Ni(n, p)⁵⁸Co Cross Section with H(n, n)p as a Standard

The cross section of the ⁵⁸Ni(n, p)⁵⁸Co reaction was determined by the activation method for neutron energies from 3 to 4.8 MeV. Neutron fluxes were measured with a laboratory-fabricated proton recoil telescope consisting of a radiator, an evacuated cell, and a surface barrier detector. The absolute efficiencies of the telescope for different neutron energies have been interpreted by Monte Carlo calculation as well as by a direct integration method. The fraction of activations induced by neutrons following single elastic scattering to those without scattering in the nickel sample was also calculated by a Monte Carlo program. The neutron attenuation through the nickel sample was also considered. Major sources of error in the cross-section determination are summarized and discussed. The total error was estimated to be 4 to 5%.