Activation Cross Section for the ReactionNa23(n, p)Ne23

The absolute reaction cross section for ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}(n, p){\mathrm{Ne}}^{23}$ has been measured in the range of neutron energies from 3.3 Mev to 8.2 Mev by use of neutrons from the reactions ${\mathrm{H}}^2(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^3$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$. The cross section rises from a threshold at about 3.7 Mev to 12 mb at the highest energy studied. Twelve resonances are observed corresponding to excited levels in ${\mathrm{Na}}^{24}$. The region of energy overlap between the neutrons from ${\mathrm{H}}^2(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^3$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ gives values of the ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ cross section which are in rough agreement with those previously measured elsewhere. Over-all accuracy is estimated to be ±20% for ${\mathrm{H}}^2(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^3$ data, and ±50% for ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(d, n){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ data.