Measurement of the Isomeric Yield Ratio of Zirconium-89m from Zirconium-88 Thermal Neutron Absorption

ORAL

Abstract

The thermal neutron capture cross section of zirconium-88 has recently been measured at the remarkably high level of 800,000 barns. Measurement of this cross section via reactor irradiation and product analysis requires correction for the decay path of zirconium-89 through its metastable state, which resides at 588keV above the ground state with a half-life of 4.2 minutes. We present a precise measurement of the rate at which the metastable state is populated (the isomeric yield ratio), by the method of reactor irradiation and HPGe analysis. This experiment was conducted at the TRIGA Mark II research reactor at University of Texas at Austin. We present a result of 74.9+-0.6% for the isomeric yield ratio.

*This work was supported by the University of Dallas Donald A. Cowan Physics Institute.

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Publication: Preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.05367

Presenters

  • Isaac Paul Kelly

    • University of Dallas

Authors

  • Isaac Paul Kelly

    • University of Dallas

  • Will H Flanagan

    • University of Dallas

  • Jacob Moldenhauer

    • University of Dallas

  • William Charlton

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Joseph Lapka

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Donald D Nolting

    • University of Texas at Austin