Measurement of alpha-induced reaction cross-sections for $^{nat}$Zn with detailed covariance analysis

Abstract: The production cross-section of $<sup>{68}$Ge, $<sup>{69}$Ge, $<sup>{65}$Zn and $<sup>{67}$Ga radioisotopes from alpha-induced nuclear reaction with $<sup>{nat}$Zn have been measured using the stacked foil activation technique followed by the off-line $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy in the incident alpha energy range 14-37 MeV. The obtained nuclear reaction cross-sections are compared with previous experimental data available in the EXFOR data library, evaluated nuclear data from TENDL-2019 and theoretical results, calculated using TALYS nuclear reaction code. We have also performed the detailed uncertainty analysis for these nuclear reactions and their respective correlation metrics are presented. Since $\alpha$-induced reactions are important in nuclear medicine and developing the nuclear reaction codes so needful corrections related to the coincidence summing factor and the geometric factor have been considered during the data analysis in the present study.