Measurements and Model Calculations of Activation Reaction Rate for (n, p) Reaction on 54Fe Isotope

In China Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor research, the neutronics experiment is essential in validating the neutronics codes and tools used in a blanket. Reduction activation ferritic–martensitic steel is the main structural material of the water-cooled ceramic breeder blanket, of which the main composition is Fe. However, the activation reaction of 54Fe(n, p)54Mn will bring the long half-life product of 54Mn. Therefore, the reaction rate of the reaction channel 54Fe(n, p)54Mn was investigated with accuracy in this paper. In a fusion reactor, neutron is generated not only from deuterium tritium reaction but also from the deuterium deuterium (DD) reaction. The spontaneous neutron source, 3 × 108 n/s 252Cf, was used to simulate DD neutron field. After irradiated for about 5 days, the activated Fe foil was measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with a high-purity germanium detector. The neutron flux was calculated using a Monte Carlo transport code and Fusion Evaluated Neutron Data Library (FENDL) 3.0 Files. The neutron group cross section was processed by NJOY. The relative error between the calculated value and the experimental value is less than 7%. The error of the database EAF2010 is the smallest in this paper. The self-shielding factor has a greater impact on FENDL 3.0 database.