Systematic study of (α,γ) reactions for stable nickel isotopes

A systematic measurement of the (alpha,gamma) reaction for all the stable nickel isotopes has been performed using the gamma-summing technique. For two of the isotopes, Ni-60 and Ni-61, the alpha-capture cross sections have been experimentally measured for the first time. For Ni-58,Ni-62,Ni-64, the current measurement is in excellent agreement with earlier results found in the literature, and additionally extends the energy range of the measured cross sections up to 8.7 MeV. The data provided a tool for testing the cross section predictions of Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The experimental results were compared to the cross sections calculated with the TALYS 1.6 code and commonly used databases NON-SMOKER and BRUSLIB. For each of the investigated isotopes a combination of input parameter for TALYS was identified that best reproduces the experimental data, and recommended reaction rate has been calculated. Additionally, a set of inputs for Hauser-Feshbach calculations was given that, simultaneously for all the isotopes under consideration, reproduces the experimental data within the experimental uncertainties.