14.5 MeV neutron capture cross-section measurements in ¹⁸¹Ta with activation technique

The activation cross section and isomeric ratios for neutron capture are measured at an energy of 14.5 MeV for ¹⁸¹Ta, relative to sigma (¹⁸¹Ta(n,p)¹⁸¹Hf)=2.5 mb. Gamma-ray spectra of the product nuclei were measured with an HPGe detector. Corrections for the influence of lower-energy neutrons were determined by systematically varying the geometric arrangement. The corrected activation capture cross section at 14.5 MeV is found to be: sigma _total=1.0+or-0.2 mb, sigma _m=0.010+or-0.003 mb and the isomeric ratio is found to be 0.010+or-0.004.