The 56Fe(n, p)56Mn and 27Al(n, α)24Na cross sections at 14·78 MeV

Abstract The 56 Fe ( n , p ) 56 Mn and 27 Al( n , α ) 24 Na cross sections have been measured at the average energy of 14·78 MeV with an energy width of 200 keV. Aluminium and iron samples in the form of foils were irradiated in an accurately known neutron flux and the resulting 56 Mn and 24 Na activities determined using absolute 4πβ-γ counting techniques. The flux was determined using a recoil proton monitor to an accuracy of ±2·1 per cent. The values obtained were 109·8 ± 2·9 mb and 115·5 ± 3 mb where the errors have been obtained by adding the systematic error in determining the neutron flux linearly to the random error calculated at the 99 per cent confidence level in determining the 56 Mn and 24 Na activities.