Scattering of 9.0-MeV neutrons by Al, Si, Fe, Ni, and Co

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the differential elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections for 9.0-MeV neutrons scattered by Al, Si, Fe, Ni, and Co. These measurements were made on natural samples using a time-of-flight spectrometer with a shielded and biased liquid organic scintillator and pulse-shape discrimination. Corrections for finite geometry were made to all data using both analytical and Monte Carlo methods. Relative uncertainties in the measured cross sections are typically 2-3% and normalization uncertainties are 3-4%. Optical-model parameters were determined by fitting the elastic data. These parameters were used to determine the $\frac{(N\ensuremath{-}Z)}{A}$ dependence of the real potential strength near $A=60$ and to compare elastic cross sections calculated using an incoherent sum of statistical-model and direct interaction contributions to the measured inelastic cross sections.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS Al, Si, Fe, Ni, Co ($n,n$), and ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$), $E=9$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}({E}_{n},\ensuremath{\theta})$.]