Capture Gamma-Ray Studies

Abstract

Measurements are made of the maximum energies of gamma-rays emitted on neutron capture by a number of elements. Values so obtained are in rough agreement with semi-empirical formulas for neutron binding energies. Evidence is presented to show that gamma-rays carrying nearly the maximum energy are observed much more frequently than would be expected on statistical theories. The yield of gamma-rays on neutron capture is studied and found to show a variation, on the elements examined, of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30 percent about a mean.