Investigation of α-particle emission from the interactions of fast neutrons with ¹⁶¹Dy and ¹⁶³Dy nuclei

Abstract

The energy spectra of α-particles emitted in the ¹⁶¹Dy(n, α)¹⁶¹Gd and ¹⁶³Dy(n,α)¹⁶⁰Gd reactions have been measured at neutron energies equal to 14.1 and 18.2 MeV. The results have been analysed in terms of Hauser-Feshbach, pre-equilibrium and knock-on models. The experimental data can be described assuming the existence of preformed α-clusters in target nuclei and the processes involving only few degrees of freedom.