First- and second-chance proton emission in the interactions of fast neutrons withMo92

Cross sections were measured radiochemically for the ${}_{}{}^{92}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mo}$(n,p${)}^{92}$ ${\mathrm{Nb}}^{\mathrm{m}}$ and ${}_{}{}^{92}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mo}$(n,n’p +pn+d${)}^{91}$ ${\mathrm{Nb}}^{\mathrm{m}}$ reactions over the neutron energy range of 9.0–10.6 MeV, and for the latter reaction also between 12.6 and 14.4 MeV. Use was made of high-resolution γ-ray and x-ray spectroscopy. Statistical-model calculations taking into account precompound effects were performed for fast neutron induced reactions on ${}_{}{}^{92}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mo}$. The calculational results agree well with the experimental data on emitted proton spectra as well as on the excitation functions of various reaction channels. The second-chance proton emission is significant for incident neutron energies above 11 MeV; between 13 and 14 MeV it is comparable to the first-chance proton emission.