Activation cross-sections of proton-induced nuclear reactions on natural zinc in the energy range of 4–30 MeV

In the present work, the excitation functions for the proton-induced nuclear reactions on natural zinc were measured in the energy range of 4–30 MeV using the well-established stacked-foil activation procedure. The activation products were measured based on their characteristic gamma lines using HPGe γ-ray spectrometry. The radioactivities determined were used for the calculation of cross-sections of the radionuclides of interest, i.e., 61Cu, 62,65,69mZn, 57Co and 66,67,68Ga. The cross-sections have also been compared with the available literature data and the theoretical prediction of the TALYS code via its latest TENDL-2023 library as well as the prediction of EMPIRE-3.2.2 model code. The results show a reasonable agreement when compared with the available literature data. This work, however, shows that the theoretical data extracted from the TENDL-2023 library and EMPIRE-3.2.2 default calculation significantly underestimate the experimental cross-sections of 57Co nuclide while they overestimate those of 69mZn. The present result has potential applications to improve the predicting capability of the model codes as well as to serve as additional data for the nuclear reaction cross-section database. •Cross-sections for natZn(p,x) reactions were measured in the energy range of 4–30 MeV.•Results were compared with literature data and theoretical predictions from Talys and Empire codes.•Both codes significantly underestimate cross sections for 57Co but overestimate those for 69mZn.•Results contribute to improve model code accuracy and expand the nuclear reaction cross-section database.