Fred Bruce Bateman

An update on (n,charged particle) research at WNR

Neutron-induced reactions producing light charged particles continue to be investigated at the spallation fast-neutron source at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). New data on the cross sections for alpha-particle production for neutrons on {sup 58}Ni and {sup 60}Ni are presented from threshold to 50 MeV. Recent changes in the experiment now allow protons, deuterons, tritons, {sup 3}He and alpha particles to be identified.

Erratum: Measurement of the n-p elastic scattering angular distribution at E{sub n}=10 MeV [Phys. Rev. C 65, 014004 (2001)]

The reported data are given for the mean angles measured rather than for the central angles. The data are normalized to the most recent Evaluated Nuclear Data File evaluated angle-integrated elastic-scattering cross section and refitted with a Legendre polynomial expansion.

Measurement of the n-p elastic scattering angular distribution at E{sub n}=14.9 MeV

The relative differential cross section for the elastic scattering of neutrons by protons was measured at an incident neutron energy E{sub n}=14.9 MeV and for center-of-mass scattering angles ranging from about 60 deg. to 180 deg. Angular distribution values were obtained from the normalization of the integrated data to the n-p total elastic scattering cross section. Comparisons of the normalized data to the predictions of the Arndt et al. phase-shift analysis, those of the Nijmegen group, and with the ENDF/B-VII.0 evaluation are sensitive to the value of the total elastic scattering cross section used to normalize the data. The results of a fit to a first-order Legendre polynomial expansion are in good agreement in the backward scattering hemisphere with the predictions of the Arndt et al. phase-shift analysis, those of the Nijmegen group, and to a lesser extent, with the ENDF/B-VII.0 evaluation. A fit to a second-order expansion is in better agreement with the ENDF/B-VII.0 evaluation than with the other predictions, in particular when the total elastic scattering cross section given by Arndt et al. and the Nijmegen group is used to normalize the data. A Legendre polynomial fit to the existing n-p scattering data in the 14 MeV energymorexa0» region, excluding the present measurement, showed that a best fit is obtained for a second-order expansion. Furthermore, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test confirms the general agreement in the backward scattering hemisphere and shows that significant differences between the database and the predictions occur in the angular range between 60 deg. and 120 deg. and below 20 deg. Although there is good overall agreement in the backward scattering hemisphere, more precision small-angle scattering data and a better definition of the total elastic cross section are needed for an accurate determination of the shape and magnitude of the angular distribution.«xa0less

Failure of Standard Optical Models to Reproduce Neutron Total Cross Section Differences in the W Isotopes

Recently cross section differences among the isotopes 182, 184, 186W have been measured as part of a study of total cross sections in the 5–560 MeV energy range.1) These measurements show oscillations up to 150 mb between 5 and 100 MeV. Spherical and deformed phenomenological optical potentials with typical radial and isospin dependences show very small oscillations, in disagreement with the data. In a simple Ramsauer model, 2–4) this discrepancy can be traced to a cancellation between radial and isospin effects. Understanding this problem requires a more detailed model that incorporates a realistic description of the neutron and proton density distributions. This has been done with results of Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov calculations using the Gogny force, together with a microscopic folding model employing a modification5,6) of the JLM potential as an effective interaction. This treatment yields a satisfactory interpretation of the observed total cross section differences.

Measurement of the angular distribution of neutron-proton scattering at 10 MeV

The relative angular distribution of neutrons scattered from protons was measured at an incident neutron energy of 10 MeV at the Ohio University Accelerator Laboratory. An array of 11 detector telescopes at laboratory angles of 0 to 60 degrees was used to detect recoil protons from neutron interactions with a CH{sub 2} (polypropylene) target. Data for 7 of these telescopes were obtained with one set of electronics and are presented here. These data, from 108 to 180 degrees for the center-of-mass scattering angles, have a small slope which agrees better with angular distributions predicted by the Arndt phase shifts than with the ENDF/B-VI angular distribution.