Study of secondary neutron interactions with $^{232}$Th, $^{129}$I, and $^{127}$I nuclei with the uranium assembly "QUINTA" at 2, 4, and 8 GeV deuteron beams of the JINR Nuclotron accelerator

Abstract

The natural uranium assembly, "QUINTA", was irradiated with 2, 4, and 8 GeV deuterons. The $^{232}$Th, $^{127}$I, and $^{129}$I samples have been exposed to secondary neutrons produced in the assembly at a 20-cm radial distance from the deuteron beam axis. The spectra of gamma rays emitted by the activated $^{232}$Th, $^{127}$I, and $^{129}$I samples have been analyzed and several tens of product nuclei have been identified. For each of those products, neutron-induced reaction rates have been determined. The transmutation power for the $^{129}$I samples is estimated. Experimental results were compared to those calculated with well-known stochastic and deterministic codes.