The (n,2n) reaction for the lightest stable erbium isotope Er162 from reaction threshold up to 19 MeV

The $^{162}\mathrm{Er}(n,2n)^{161}\mathrm{Er}$ reaction cross section (${E}_{th}=9.26\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$) was measured at six incident neutron beam energies by means of the activation technique. Two energy regions were covered in the present work: the near-threshold energies between 10.7 and 11.3 MeV, as well as the higher energies from 17.1 up to 19.0 MeV. In this way, the energy range from the reaction threshold up to 19 MeV was experimentally mapped, considering also the existing experimental information around 14 MeV. The quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam at near-threshold energies was produced via the $^{2}\mathrm{H}(d,n)^{3}\mathrm{He}$ reaction, while the higher neutron beam energies were achieved by using the $^{3}\mathrm{H}(d,n)^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reaction. The primary deuteron beam was delivered in both cases by the 5.5 MV Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator of NSCR ``Demokritos.'' Statistical model calculations were performed and compared with all the available experimental data.