Understanding the nuclear-reaction network involving Zr isotopes is important for the stockpile stewardship program. The neutron-capture cross section for the radioactive isotope 88Zr has not been measured and we are working towards filling in this gap in the nuclear data. As part of this project, 88Zr is being produced via two separate methods. First, it was produced at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory by bombarding a yttrium foil with protons and second, it will be collected using the aqueous isotope-harvesting end station at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. The 88Zr will be purified from its production matrix and made into a target for irradiation at the University of Missouri Research Reactor. After irradiation, the 89Zr reaction product will be detected through γ-ray spectroscopy to determine the thermal neutron-capture cross section. The current status of this project and future plans will be presented.

88Zr(n,γ)89Zr cross section measurement

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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