Thermal neutron cross-section and resonance integral of the 152Sm(n,γ)153Sm reaction induced by pulsed neutrons

We measured the thermal neutron cross-section (σ0) and resonance integral (I0) of the 152Sm(n,γ)153Sm reaction relative to that of the 197Au(n,γ)198Au reaction. Sm and Au foils with and without a cadmium cover of 0.5mm were irradiated with moderated pulsed neutrons produced from the electron linac. The induced activities of the reaction products were determined via high energy resolution HPGe detector. The present results: σ0,Sm =212±8 b and I0,Sm =3.02±0.19kb are consistent with most of the existing reference data. •Measurement of thermal neutron cross-section and resonance integral of the 152Sm(n,γ)153Sm reaction.•Electron linac based pulsed neutrons.•1/E1+α epithermal neutron spectrum distribution.•Reference reaction 197Au(n,γ)198Au.