Consistent optical potential for incident and emitted low-energy $α$ particles. II. $α$-emission in fast-neutron induced reactions on Zr isotopes

Abstract

Background: Challenging questions of the $α$-particle optical-model potential (OMP) are still pointed out by recent high-precision measurements of $α$-induced reaction data below the Coulomb barrier. Moreover, the reliability of a previous OMP for $α$-particles on nuclei within the mass number range 45$\leq$$A$$\leq$209 has been recently proved for emitted $α$ particles as well, but only in the case of proton-induced reactions on Zn isotopes [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 91}, 064611 (2015), Paper I]. Purpose: Analysis of most recent $(α,γ)$ reaction data for Ge and Zr isotopes, which provides an additional validation of the above-mentioned potential, is related to a further account of $α$-particle emission in neutron-induced reactions on Zr isotopes, at the same time with a suitable description of all competitive processes. Methods: A consistent parameter set, established or validated by independent analysis of recent various data, particularly $γ$-ray strength functions, have been involved within model calculation of the $(α,γ)$ as well as $(n,α)$ reaction cross sections. The latter are part of the whole analysis of the neutron activation of Zr isotopes, in order to avoid any error compensation or latent ambiguity. Results: The aforesaid potential provides a consistent description of recent $α$-induced reaction data with no empirical rescaling factors of the $γ$ and/or nucleon widths. On the other hand, its use leads to underestimated predictions of the pre-equilibrium emission and statistical models for the $(n,α)$ reaction cross sections. Conclusions: An optical potential with a volume imaginary component seems to be needed to describe the low-energy $α$-particle evaporation, while only surface absorption occurs in $α$-induced reactions at similar energies.