Reactions of isotope 60Co formation at interaction of the neutrons with 59Co, 60Ni and 63Cu (state-of-the-art of neutron cross sections)

The state-of-the-art of neuron cross sections of three reactions resulting in formation of an isotope 60Co and commonly used as activation detectors at neutron flux and fluence measurements in wide neutron energy range has been analyzed. The analysis was conducted on the basis of information from the newest versions of the evaluated nuclear data libraries ENDF/B-VI, JEF-2. 2, JENDL-3.2, BROND-2, CENDL-2, international reactor dosimetry file IRDF-90 (version 2) and international library of experimental nuclear data CSISRS. A graphical cross section presentation of the reactions 59Со(n,γ)60Co, 60Ni(n,p)60Co and 63Cu(n,α)60Co in the energy range up to 20 MeV, brief analysis of the available evaluated and experimental data, including results of integral experiments in standard neutron fields, provide condensed, but rather complete information on present day state of the reactions concerned. The up-to-date information on characteristics of 60Co decay and the reactions under consideration is also included.