The measurement of the 86Kr(n,2n)85mKr reaction cross section for the d-T neutrons

• The cross sections for the 86 Kr(n,2n) 85m Kr reaction has been measured. • Natural Kr gas with high purity and high pressure was used as the target sample. • 93 Nb(n,2n) 92m Nb was used as a monitor for neutron fluence. • The program Talys-2.0 is used for theoretical excitation function calculation. • Experimental and theoretical results were compared with the present works. The cross section of the 86 Kr(n,2n) 85m Kr reaction was measured at five different energies in the 13–15 MeV range. The reaction 3 H(d,n) 4 He produces quasi-monoenergetic neutrons, and their energy is determined by the Q-value equation as well as the sample’s geometry. The 93 Nb(n,2n) 92m Nb reaction, with a threshold energy similar to the investigated reaction, is used to measure neutron flux. This experiment provides a detailed covariance analysis and accurate measurement results as compared to previously reported results. The theoretical cross section of the 86 Kr(n,2n) 85m Kr reaction was calculated using the Talys-2.0 program. In the calculation, all parameters were set to default values except for the six level densities. The results of this measurement can be used as a diagnostic tool to study the characteristics of deuterium–tritium plasma produced in inertial confinement fusion reactions. These cross section values can also be used to validate the reaction model and improve the neutron databases.