Measurement of the natMo(n, x)94Nb cross section using ultra low-level γ-ray spectrometry at HADES Original Research Article

The cross section for the natMo(n, x)94Nb reaction was measured in the energy range from 14.5 to 20.3 MeV using both conventional γ-rayspectrometry and the ultra low-level γ-ray spectrometry (ULGS) facility in the underground laboratory HADES. The exceptionally long half-life of the activation product 94Nb of 20300 years required a long irradiation, a large sample and a special irradiation geometry, to allow a simultaneous determination of the three data points. This measurement presents the first data above 14 MeV. The data are well described by model calculations with the STAPRE-H code that include the 94Mo(n, p)94Nb and 95Mo(n, np)94Nb reactions.