Studies of ^54,56Fe Neutron Scattering Cross Sections

¹ University of Dallas, Department of Physics, Irving, TX 75062, USA
² United States Naval Academy, Department of Physics, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA
³ University of Kentucky, Department of Physics, Lexington, KY 40506
⁴ University of Kentucky, Department of Chemistry, Lexington, KY 40506

^a Corresponding author: hicks@udallas.edu

Published online: 28 May 2015

Abstract

Elastic and inelastic neutron scattering differential cross sections and γ-ray production cross sections have been measured on ^54,56Fe at several incident energies in the fast neutron region between 1.5 and 4.7 MeV. All measurements were completed at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory (UKAL) using a 7-MV Model CN Van de Graaff accelerator, along with the neutron production and neutron and γ-ray detection systems located there. The facilities at UKAL allow the investigation of both elastic and inelastic scattering with nearly mono-energetic incident neutrons. Time-of-flight techniques were used to detect the scattered neutrons for the differential cross section measurements. The measured cross sections are important for fission reactor applications and also for testing global model calculations such as those found at ENDF, since describing both the elastic and inelastic scattering is important for determining the direct and compound components of the scattering mechanism. The γ-ray production cross sections are used to determine cross sections to unresolved levels in the neutron scattering experiments. Results from our measurements and comparisons to model calculations are presented.