Average photonuclear cross section measurements for the 141Pr, 160Gd and 162Er isotopes and compared with Geant4 simulations.

The flux weighted average cross sections of the 141Pr(γ,n)140Pr, 160Gd(γ,n)159Gd and 162Er(γ,n)161Er nuclear reactions induced by 10 and 15 MeV energy bremsstrahlung photons are measured with offline gamma spectrometry. The cross sections are reported with detailed uncertainties in the associated parameters. The measured cross sections are compared with the theoretical cross sections calculated using TALYS 1.95 code for eight different gamma strength functions. The average cross sections are also compared with the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations of the nuclear reactions induced by bremsstrahlung photons. The measured cross sections are important for the nuclear database and nuclear astrophysics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]