Thermal neutron capture cross sections of the palladium isotopes

Precise thermal neutron capture {gamma}-ray cross sections {sigma}{sub {gamma}} were measured for all elements with Z=1-83,90, and 92, for He and Pm, at the Budapest Reactor. These data were evaluated with additional information from the literature to generate the Evaluated Gamma-ray Activation File (EGAF). Isotopic radiative neutron cross sections can be deduced from the total transition cross section feeding the ground state, {sigma}{sub 0}={sigma}{sigma}{sub {gamma}}(GS) if the decay scheme is complete. The EGAF file contains partial {gamma}-ray cross sections for all stable palladium isotopes. None of these decay schemes are complete, although in each case transitions de-exciting low-lying levels are known. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of the palladium thermal neutron capture decay schemes using the computer code DICEBOX. The simulated populations of low low-lying levels are normalized to the measured {sigma}{sub {gamma}} values from EGAF and the total radiative neutron cross section {sigma}{sub 0} is obtained. The {sigma}{sub 0} values derived for the palladium isotopes agree well with previous measurements and were in several cases more precise. Complementary use of {gamma}-ray cross-section data and Monte Carlo calculations has proven effective in determining both the palladium total radiative cross sections and new nuclear structure information.