Gamma-Ray-Production Cross Sections for the ⁵⁶Fe(n,n’y) Reaction from 2.5- to 14.1-MeV Neutron Energies

Differential production cross sections for gamma rays from the ⁵⁶Fe(n,n’y) reactions are presented for incident-neutron energies between 2.5 and 14.1 MeV. The reactions are studied at 11 neutron energies using pulsed beam techniques with the D(d, n)³He reaction and associated particle method with the T(d,n)⁴He reaction as neutron sources and using a sample of natural iron. The excitation functions of 17 gamma-ray transitions were measured between 4.8- and 8.8-MeV incident energies in nine 0.5-MeV steps at an angle of 90 deg. Angular distributions of 13 prominent gamma rays were also measured at 8.8-MeV neutron energy and for the 846.8- and 1238.3-keV gamma rays at 2.5- and 14.1-MeV neutron energies.