Excitation function of the ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\gamma \right){}^{61}\mathrm{Cu}$ reaction from threshold to 16 MeV

Excitation function of the reaction ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\gamma \right){}^{61}\mathrm{Cu}$ was measured via the activation technique in the energy range of 1.3–16.0 MeV using a low-energy accelerator and a small cyclotron. The results are comparable to those previously obtained via prompt γ counting. In addition excitation functions of the more common competing ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,n\right){}^{60}\mathrm{Cu}$ and ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\alpha \right){}^{57}\mathrm{Co}$ reactions were also measured. Theoretical calculations on proton-induced reactions on ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$ were performed using the nuclear model code talys. The results suggest that near the threshold of the reaction the compound nucleus mechanism dominates. Thereafter the contribution of direct interactions becomes rather strong, especially between 4 and 6 MeV, i.e., just below the threshold of the ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,n\right){}^{60}\mathrm{Cu}$ reaction. The cross section at the maximum of the excitation function of each of the three reactions, namely, ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\gamma \right){}^{61}\mathrm{Cu},{}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,n\right){}^{60}\mathrm{Cu}$, and ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\alpha \right){}^{57}\mathrm{Co}$, amounts to 2, 320, and 85 mb, respectively. The $(p,n)$ reaction is thus the most commonly occurring process, and the $(p,\gamma )$ reaction is the weakest, possibly due to higher probability of particle emission than γ-ray emission from the highly excited intermediate nucleus ${}^{61}\mathrm{Cu}$ formed in the interaction of a proton with the target nucleus ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}$.

Figure 1

Measured and calculated excitation function of the ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\gamma \right){}^{61}\mathrm{Cu}$ process.

Figure 2

Measured and calculated excitation function of the ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,n\right){}^{60}\mathrm{Cu}$ process.

Figure 3

Measured and calculated excitation function of the ${}^{60}\mathrm{Ni}\left(p,\alpha \right){}^{57}\mathrm{Co}$ process.