CXLVIII. Neutron-widths and the density of nuclear levels

Abstract

Summary The theoretical relation between the level width and the mean spacing D of the levels is investigated, using a model with strong configuration-mixing, not strong enough however to destroy the size resonance effect. Rough numerical values of Γ/D are obtained using a previous analysis of the size resonance effect in the thermal-neutron cross sections. The lack of sharpness of the surface of the nucleus has been taken into account, and is responsible for a factor of two or three in the calculated level widths.