Relative Abundances and Neutron Capture Cross Sections of the Neodymium Isotopes

Abstract

A double-focusing mass spectrometer has been used to determine the relative isotopic abundances of naturally-occurring neodymium and the relative isotopic neutron capture cross sections. Allowance for isotope fractionation, an effect which is only noticeable under certain experimental conditions, has been accomplished by an averaging technique. The relative abundances are compared with the results previously published.The relative cross sections are normalized to a value of 48 barns for the capture cross section of normal neodymium. The resulting isotopic cross sections are in satisfactory agreement with the recently published results of Pomerance.