Measurement of cross section of the residues from the $^{11}$B-induced reaction on $^{89}$Y and $^{93}$Nb: Production of $^{97}$Ru and $^{101m}$Rh

Abstract

The heavy-ion induced reactions on intermediate mass targets are complex in nature, even at the low energies. To understand those nuclear reaction phenomena in detail, more experimental studies are required in a wide range of energy. Heavy-ion reactions were investigated by measuring production cross sections of the residues produced in the $^{11}$B-induced reactions on $^{89}$Y and $^{93}$Nb at low energies, near and above the barrier, and to check the effectiveness of the different nuclear models to explain them. Further, aim is also to optimize the production parameters of neutron deficient medically relevant $^{97}$Ru and $^{101m}$Rh radioisotopes produced in those reactions, respectively. The $^{11}$B-beam was allowed to impinge on $^{89}$Y and $^{93}$Nb foils supported by an aluminum catcher foil, arranged in a stack, in 27.5-58.7 and 30.6-62.3 MeV energy range, respectively. The $\gamma$-spectrometry was carried out after EOB to measure the activity of the radionuclides produced in each foil and cross sections were calculated. Measured cross-sectional data were analyzed in terms of compound and precompound model calculations. The measured cross sections of the residues showed good agreement with the model calculations based on the Hauser-Feshbach formulation and exciton model. A substantial preequilibrium contribution was noticed in the 3$n$ reaction channel in both the reactions. Theoretical estimations confirmed that major production yields are mostly contributed by the compound reaction process. Preequilibrium emissions contributed at the high energy tail of the 3$n$ channel for both the reactions. Moreover, an indirect signature of a direct reaction influence was also observed in the $^{90m}$Y production.