Thermal neutron induced (n,p) and (n,α) reactions on 37Ar

Abstract The 37 Ar(n th ,α) 34 S and 37 Ar(n th ,p) 37 Cl reactions were studied at the high flux reactor of the ILL in Grenoble. For the 37 Ar(n th ,α 0 ) 34 S and 37 Ar(n th ,p) 37 Cl reaction cross sections, values of (1070 ± 80) b and (37 ± 4) b, respectively, were obtained. Both values are about a factor 2 smaller than the results of older measurements. The observed suppression of the 37 Ar(n th ,α 1 ) 34 S transition could be verified from theoretical considerations. Finally, evidence was found for the two-step 37 Ar(n th ,γα) 34 S process.