Cross-section of (n,2n) reaction for niobium and strontium isotopes between 13.97 to 20.02 MeV neutron energies.

The activation cross-sections of Nb(n,2n)Nb and Sr(n,2n)Sr reactions were measured using the activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometry technique in the neutron energy range 13.97-20.02 MeV. The present measurements have been done at the neutron energies where there are deficiencies and scarcity in the reaction cross-section data. The neutron flux was determined using the Al(n,α)Na monitor reaction. The γ-ray self-attenuation effect and the low energy background neutron corrections were done in this experiment. The results of the present work were compared with the previously published data and evaluated nuclear data libraries. Theoretically, the cross-section for Nb(n,2n)Nb and Sr(n,2n)Sr reactions was predicted by TALYS-1.9 nuclear code and compared with the present results.