Deuteron-induced activation cross-sections on natural copper up to 24 MeV

Activation cross-sections of ^natCu(d,x)^62,65Zn, ⁶⁴Cu,^60g+mCo,⁵⁹Fe reactions were measured using a stacked foil activation technique combined with HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry up to the deuteron energy of 24 MeV. Measured data were critically compared with the available literature data and theoretical data extracted from the TENDL-2012 library, and found only partial agreements among them. Cross-sections of ^natCu(d,x)⁵⁹Fe reactions are reported here for the first time in the energy region of 19–23 MeV. Measured cross-sections of the long-lived ⁶⁵Zn, ^60gCo and ⁵⁹Fe radionuclides are significant for understanding the activation behaviour of copper, an essential structural material used in accelerator and nuclear industry.