2020, Issue 1

DOI: 10.55176/2414-1038-2020-1-5-13

Authors & Affiliations

Chernukhin Yu.I., Kostenko I.I., Sokolov Yu.A.
Russian Federal Nuclear Center — Zababakhin All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics, Snezhinsk, Russia

Chernukhin Yu.I. – Senior Researcher, Dr. Sci. (Phys. and Math.).
Kostenko I.I. – Head of Group.
Sokolov Yu.A. – Leading Researcher, Dr. Sci. (Phys. and Math.). Contacts: post box 245, 13, Vasilyev st., Snezhinsk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, 456770. Tel.: +7 (351) 465-11-49; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Abstract

The paper describes the calculation-and-experimental method used to measure σ_O, σ_C cross-sections of ¹⁶O(p, α)¹³N and ¹²C(p, γ)¹³N, ¹³C(p, n)¹³N reactions when these cross-sections were averaged over the spectrum of recoil protons in hydrogen-containing media. Measurements were performed with the help of the ∼14 MeV neutron source. As a result, cross-sections were determined to be σ_O=17,2 Mbarn, σ_C =2,59 Mbarn and this fairly well agrees with the sufficiently limited data available on the energy dependence of cross-sections from the above reactions in the proton energy region Е≤10 MeV. Cross-sections of ¹⁶O(p, α)¹³N and ¹²C(p, γ)¹³N, ¹³C(p, n)¹³N reactions in the region of small and medium proton energies E≤10 MeV are of interest for the fundamental science when studying the CNO – cycle of hydrogen burning in rather large stars and also for applied sciences when it is necessary to solve certain problems like (i) considering "false" nitrogen formation when protein content is determined in grain crops using the neutron activation analysis and the 14 MeV neutron source; (ii) studying applicability of ¹⁶O(p, α)¹³N and ¹²C(p, γ)¹³N, ¹³C(p, n)¹³N reactions to produce the shortlived β⁺-radioactive isotope ¹³N directly in water and alcohol solutions of preparations for positronemission tomography (PET) with high-energy sources of (D,T)-neutrons; and (iii) studying applicability of ¹⁶O(p, α)¹³N and ¹²C(p, γ)¹³N, ¹³C(p, n)¹³N reactions with the formation of the β⁺-radioactive isotope ¹³N to determine actual distribution of absorbed doses in the patient body or in the phantom thereof based on the annihilation radiation after a session of neutron therapy with the 14 MeV neutron source or after a proton therapy session.

Keywords
cross-sections of ¹⁶O(p, α)¹³N and ¹²C(p, γ)¹³N, ¹³C(p, n)¹³N reactions, 14 MeV neutrons generator, recoil protons, neutron activation analysis

Article Text (PDF, in Russian)

References

UDC 621.039

Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2020, issue 1, 1:1