Differential Cross Sections for Small-Angle Scattering of 24-MeV Neutrons by Protons

Abstract

Absolute $n\ensuremath{-}p$ elastic scattering cross sections were measured at 19.5 and 25.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (lab) for an incident neutron energy of 24 MeV. A liquid scintillator detected both the incident and scattered neutrons. The scatterer was a liquid scintillator also. The c.m. differential cross sections were 31.3 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.5 and 30.7 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.6 mb/sr at c.m. scattering angles of 39.3 and 50.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, respectively. The present results agree with the cross sections predicted by Hopkins and Breit.