New measurement of $$^{50}$$Cr and $$^{53}$$Cr (n,$$\gamma $$) cross sections at n_TOF: a call for chromium nuclear data revision

Abstract $$^{50}$$ 50 Cr and $$^{53}$$ 53 Cr are very relevant in criticality safety benchmarks related to nuclear reactors. The discrepancies of up to 30% between the neutron capture cross section evaluations have an important effect on the $$k_{eff}$$ k eff and $$k_{\infty }$$ k ∞ in criticality benchmarks particularly sensitive to chromium. In this work, the $$^{50,53}$$ 50 , 53 Cr(n, $$\gamma $$ γ ) cross sections are to be determined between 1 and 100 keV with an 8–10% accuracy following the requirements of the NEA High Priority Request List (HPRL) to solve the current discrepancies. We have measured these reactions by the time-of-flight technique at the EAR1 experimental area of the n_TOF facility, using an array of four C $$_6$$ 6 D $$_6$$ 6 detectors with very low neutron sensitivity. The highly-enriched samples used are significantly thinner than in previous measurements, thus minimizing the multiple-scattering effects. We have produced, and analysed with the R-matrix analysis code SAMMY, capture yields featuring 33 resonances of $$^{50}$$ 50 Cr and 51 of $$^{53}$$ 53 Cr with an accuracy between 5% and 9%, hence fulfilling the requirements made by the NEA. The differential and integral cross sections have been compared to previous data and evaluations. The new measured $$^{50,53}$$ 50 , 53 Cr(n, $$\gamma $$ γ ) cross sections provide a valuable input for upcoming evaluations, which are deemed necessary given that the results presented herein do not support the increase in both cross sections proposed in the recent INDEN evaluation.