Measurement and uncertainty propagation of the (γ,n) reaction cross-section of 58Ni and 59Co at 15 MeV bremsstrahlung

Activation cross-section of photon-induced reaction on structural materials 58Ni and 59Co was measured at the bremsstrahlung endpoint energy 15 MeV from an S band electron linac. The uncertainties in the (γ,n) reaction cross-section of both 58Ni and 59Co were estimated by using the concept of covariance analysis. The cross-section of 58Ni(γ,n)57Ni reaction in the present work is slightly lower than the previous experimental data and the TENDL-2015 data. The cross-section of 59Co(γ,n)58Co reaction has been measured for the first time. However, the present experimental data of 59Co(γ,n)58Co reaction is very low in comparison to the TENDL-2015 and JENDL/PD-2004 data.