Cross sections of the57Fe(n,α)54Crand63Cu(n,α)60Coreactions in the MeV region

Cross sections of the ${}^{57}{\text{Fe}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})}^{54}$Cr reaction are measured for the first time, and those of the ${}^{63}\text{Cu}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{60}\text{Co}$ reaction are measured in the megaelectron volt region by the direct experimental method. Experiments were performed at the 4.5-MV Van de Graaff Accelerator of Peking University. Monoenergetic neutrons (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 MeV) were produced through the ${}^{2}$H($d,n$)${}^{3}$He reaction with a deuterium gas target. Measurements were carried out using a double-section-gridded ionization chamber and back-to-back double ${}^{57}$Fe and ${}^{63}$Cu samples. Foreground and background were measured in separate runs. A ${}^{238}$U sample and a BF${}_{3}$ long counter were utilized for absolute neutron flux calibration and for neutron flux normalization, respectively. Present results are compared with talys-1.4 code predictions, existing measurements, and evaluations.