Interlaboratory comparison of spallation-reaction cross sections for iron and copper with 590-MeV protons

Abstract Three sets of thin foils of carbon, aluminum, iron and copper have been simultaneously irradiated with 590-MeV protons. Cross sections of some of the γ-ray emitting spallation products from Fe and Cu have been measured independently by members of the three participating laboratories. The results are compared and average cross sections are given. Various sources of error common to such experiments are presented, and the steps taken to minimize them in this work are discussed.