Nuclear level density and thermal properties of $$^{115}\hbox {Sn}$$ from neutron evaporation

The nuclear level density of $$^{115}\hbox {Sn}$$ has been measured in an excitation energy range $$\sim 2$$ –9 MeV using the experimental neutron evaporation spectra from {In}$$ (p, n) reaction. densities were compared with microscopic Hartree–Fock BCS (HFBCS), Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov plus combinatorial (HFB + C), and exact pairing independent particle model (EP IPM) calculations. It is observed that EP IPM provides best description data among three. thermal properties (entropy temperature) have investigated densities. temperature profile as well calculated heat capacity show distinct signatures a transition strongly-paired nucleonic phase to weakly paired one this nucleus.