Spallation cross sections for natFe and natCu targets for 120 GeV/c protons and pions

Spallation cross sections from thin natural copper and iron targets bombarded by a mixed 120 GeV/c proton/pion beam were measured in an activation experiment at CERN. The beam intensity was monitored by a calibrated ionization chamber and the activity of several spallation products was measured (14 for copper and 16 for iron) by $\gamma${} spectrometry, allowing the absolute cross section of the mixed hadron beam to be derived. Monte Carlo simulations with the FLUKA code provided the ratio between the proton- and pion-induced reaction cross sections for a given spallation product, allowing us to extrapolate the individual cross sections for the proton- and the pion-induced reactions. Where possible the values were compared with literature data and showed to be generally in agreement with the highest energy data available.