Differential Cross Sections for Neutron Elastic and Inelastic Scattering on ²³Na

¹ Dept. of Physics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA
² Dept. of Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, TX 75062, USA
³ Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
⁴ Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
⁵ Dept. of Physics & Nuclear Engineering, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA

^a e-mail: vanhoy@usna.edu

Published online: 20 March 2014

Abstract

Measurements of neutron elastic and inelastic scattering from ²³Na have been performed for sixteen incident neutron energies above 1.5 MeV with the 7-MV University of Kentucky Accelerator using the ³H(p,n) reaction as the neutron source. These measurements were complemented by γ-ray excitation functions using the (n,n'γ) reaction. The time-of-flight technique is employed for background reduction in both neutron and γ- ray measurements and for determining the energy of the scattered neutrons. Cross section determinations support fuel cycle and structural materials research and development. Previous reaction model evaluations [1] relied primarily on total cross sections and four (n,n₀) and (n,n₁) angular distributions in the E_n = 5 to 9 MeV range. The inclusion of more inelastic channels at lower neutron energies provides additional information on direct couplings between elastic and inelastic scattering as a function of angular momentum transfer. Reaction model calculations examining direct collective and statistical properties were performed.