Cross sections for the production of radionuclides via natCu(p,X) spallation reactions for proton energies from 250 MeV to 2 GeV

Spallation cross sections for 250 MeV to 2 GeV protons bombarding thin targets of natural copper were determined via the foil activation technique. This energy range is important cosmogenic radionuclide production in interplanetary space bombardment by galactic cosmic-ray protons. Cross are reported 60Co, 58Co, 57Co, 56Co, 56Ni, 59Fe, 54Mn, 52Mng, 51Cr, 48V, 47Sc, 46Sc, 44Scm, and 7Be. The 44Scm section measurements provide values at energies not currently EXFOR database. All compared calculated with INCL-XX intranuclear cascade reaction code, coupled GEMINI, ABLA, SMM evaporation models. models generally predict absolute magnitude energy-dependent variability within a factor two, however accuracy decreases increasing mass difference between Cu product. ABLA GEMINI de-excitation codes performed significantly better than SMM, deexcitation model also accurately predicting light cluster nucleus large differences predictions 7Be three demonstrate that stage spallation reactions an contributor clusters.