Neutron capture cross sections of even-mass tellurium isotopes

Neutron capture by the stable even-mass Te isotopes (A=120 to 130) produces in the neighboring odd-neutron isotopes a low-spin ground state (1/2⁺ or 3/2⁺) and a high-spin (11/2^-) isomeric state. Following neutron irradiation of samples of Te of natural isotopic abundance, thermal cross sections and resonance integrals have been determined for all of the odd-mass radioactive ground states and isomers produced in the capture process. By comparing Cd-shielded and unshielded irradiations, it was possible to correct for the effect of capture by epithermal neutrons and so obtain consistent values for the thermal cross sections. Half-lives have been remeasured for ^121g,mTe, ^127mTe, and ^131mTe. The previously observed systematic behavior of the thermal cross sections leading to the low-spin and high-spin states in Sn does not appear for the similar states in the Te isotopes.