Systematic study of (p, n) and (p, 2n) reactions on ¹¹⁰Cd

Standard activation analysis technique with gamma ray spectroscopy via off-line mode was utilized for reaction cross section estimation. The proton beam was transported from the BARC-TIFR accelerator and targeted on the Cd-nat target. The 16 MeV proton beam irradiated the sample, and Copper foil was utilized as an energy degrader. The activation cross sections were estimated for Cd-110(p, n) reaction for the ground state (J(pi) = 7(+)) population of In-110 nucleus and Cd-110(p, 2n)In-109 reaction at 14.14 MeV of proton energy. Along with experimental measurements, the theoretical study has been carried out for ground and metastable states population by utilizing the nuclear model code TALYS-1.95, EMPIRE-3.2.3, and ALICE-2014 for both reaction channels. The estimated cross sections are valuable for the improvement of theoretical nuclear model codes for a comprehensive knowledge of nuclear reaction mechanisms. The produced isotopes In-109,In-110 have significant importance in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies. The present study is a dive into the phenomenological and microscopic level density models of different nuclear model codes in predicting excitation functions.