The Scattering of Neutrons by Magnesium

Abstract

2.5-Mev neutrons from the D on D reaction were scattered through magnesium. Energies of the scattered neutrons were measured in a cloud chamber. The neutron energy spectrum showed that Mg has its lowest excited level at 1.30 Mev above the ground state. Approximate values of the elastic and inelastic scattering cross section were calculated as 1.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ and 0.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, respectively.