Cross sections for the $$\left( {n, p} \right)$$ n , p reaction of selenium isotopes within 10.5 to 19.81 MeV neutron energies

The cross sections of the selenium isotopes 76Se, 77Se, 78Se and 80Se within 10.5–19.81 MeV neutron energy range have been measured through neutron activation method along with off-line γ-ray spectrometry. The quasi-monoenergetic neutrons were produced from the 7Li\n $$\\left( {p, n} \\right)$$\n reaction at 14UD BARC-TIFR Pelletron Accelerator Facility, Mumbai, India. The statistical codes TALYS-1.9 and EMPIRE-3.2.2 were applied for the theoretical calculation of reaction cross sections with different level density models from 2 to 22 MeV neutron energies. Besides this, the Se\n $$\\left( {n, p} \\right)$$\n As reaction cross sections were also calculated from different systematic formulae within 14–15 MeV neutron energies. The measured data were compared with existing literature data available in the EXFOR database, evaluated data of ENDF/B-VIII.0, JENDL-4.0 and TENDL-2019 libraries and with theoretical outcomes through TALYS-1.9 and EMPIRE-3.2.2 codes. The uncertainties in existing cross sections were calculated through the method of covariance analysis by including partial uncertainties and correlation among the different attributes. The $$\\left( {n, p} \\right)$$\n reaction cross sections of selenium isotopes at higher neutron energies first time measured in the present work can be added as new data in the nuclear data library.