Investigation of (n, p), (n, 2n) reaction cross sections for Sn isotopes for fusion reactor applications

Abstract The compound Nb 3 Sn possess superconductivity at suitable temperatures, therefore, it is best suited to be used in the toroidal coils of superconducting magnets which holds the fusion plasma and confine it inside the reactor core. The neutron induced reaction cross-sections are required from threshold to 20 MeV for different isotopes of Tin (Sn). Since limited data is available for the reactions with the Sn isotopes. Therefore, we have optimized the (n, p) and (n, 2 n) reaction cross-sections for all possible Sn isotopes from threshold to 20 MeV with modified input parameters in the nuclear reaction modular codes EMPIRE-3.2.2 and TALYS-1.8. These codes account for the major nuclear reaction mechanisms, including direct, pre-equilibrium, and compound nucleus contributions. The present results from 116 Sn ( n , p ) 116 m In , 117 Sn ( n , p ) 117 In , 117 Sn ( n , p ) 117 m In , 118 Sn ( n , 2 n ) 117 m Sn , 120 Sn ( n , 2 n ) 119 m Sn and 124 Sn ( n , 2 n ) 123 m Sn reactions calculated with nuclear modular codes: TALYS – 1.8, EMPIRE – 3.2.2 were compared with EXFOR data, systematics proposed by several authors and with the existing evaluated nuclear data library ENDF/B-VII.1, as well. The results from the present study can be used for the future development of ITER devices as well as to upgrade the nuclear model codes.