The Total Scattering Cross Section of Neutrons by Hydrogen and Carbon

Abstract

The total cross sections of hydrogen and carbon for neutrons has been determined by measuring the transmission of polythene and graphite scatterers for neutrons with energies 0.798, 1.078, 1.340, 1.578, 4.92, and 4.97 Mev. The correction for the finite geometry of the experiment was made by measuring the cross section as a function of the scatterer area and extrapolating to zero area. The cross sections are considered to be reliable to approximately \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 percent.