Neutron resonance spectroscopy of 107Ag and 109Ag

Abstract

Parity violation has been observed in a number of previously unreported neutron resonances in silver. Analysis of these parity violation data requires improved neutron resonance spectroscopy. The neutron total cross section for natural silver was measured for ${E}_{n}=10$--800 eV with the time-of-flight method at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center. The neutron capture reaction was studied with both a natural silver target and a highly enriched sample (98.29%) of ${}^{107}$Ag. A total of 38 previously unreported resonances were observed. The combination of the two measurements allowed assignment of the newly observed resonances to ${}^{107}$Ag or to ${}^{109}$Ag. Resonance parameters were determined for almost all of the neutron resonances observed.