The activation of Fe by deuterons at energies up to 20 MeV

The proton and deuteron induced activation reactions have a great interest for the assessment of induced radioactivity of accelerator components. The IFMIF (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility) accelerator needs such a data for estimation of the potential radiation hazards from the accelerating cavities and beam transport elements (Al, Cu, Fe, Cr, Nb). The cross sections are needed in the energy range from the threshold (2 - 10 MeV) up to 40 MeV both for deuterons and protons. Continuing deuteron activation measurements on Cu and Al, the activation cross-sections for production of ^58,57,56,55Co, ^56,54,52Mn and ⁵⁹Fe radioisotopes in deuteron induced reactions on Fe (natural isotope abundance) were measured from the respective thresholds up to 20 MeV. The irradiation experiment was carried out on the variable-energy cyclotron U-120M of the Nuclear Physics Institute Řež. The stacked-foil technique was utilized. The absolute values of cross sections were calculated from the induced activities measured by calibrated HPGe detectors and from total irradiation charge taking into account time profile of the current. The comparison of present results with data of other authors and with the prediction of EAF-2007 library is discussed.