Article

Methodology for measuring photonuclear reaction cross sections with an electron accelerator based on Bayesian analysis

S. BracciniAlbert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics (AEC), Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, SwitzerlandPierluigi CasolaroAlbert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics (AEC), Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Physics "Ettore Pancini", University of Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Napoli, Italy; INFN Naples Unit, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected]Gaia DellepianeAlbert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics (AEC), Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, SwitzerlandChristian KottlerFederal Institute of Metrology METAS, 3003, Bern-Wabern, SwitzerlandMatthias LüthiFederal Institute of Metrology METAS, 3003, Bern-Wabern, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected]Lorenzo MercolliAlbert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics (AEC), Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, SwitzerlandPeter PeierFederal Institute of Metrology METAS, 3003, Bern-Wabern, SwitzerlandP. ScampoliAlbert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics (AEC), Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Physics "Ettore Pancini", University of Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, 80126, Napoli, ItalyΑ. TürlerDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP), University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

2024en

ABI

Abstract

Accurate measurements of photonuclear reaction cross sections are crucial for a number of applications, including radiation shielding design, absorbed dose calculations, reactor physics and engineering, nuclear safeguard and inspection, astrophysics, and nuclear medicine. Primarily motivated by the study of the production of selected radionuclides with high-energy photon beams (mainly 225Ac, 47Sc, and 67Cu), we have established a methodology for the measurement of photonuclear reaction cross sections with the microtron accelerator available at the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). The proposed methodology is based on the measurement of the produced activity with a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) spectrometer and on the knowledge of the photon fluence spectrum through Monte Carlo simulations. The data analysis is performed by applying a Bayesian fitting procedure to the experimental data and by assuming a functional trend of the cross section, in our case a Breit-Wigner function. We validated the entire methodology by measuring a well-established photonuclear cross section, namely the 197Au(γ, n)196Au reaction. The results are consistent with those reported in the literature.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111275

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Cited by 20 references

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