Experiments on parity violation in the compound nucleus

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/373898· OSTI ID:373898

Bowman, J D

Results from experiments that measure parity-violating longitudinal asymmetries in the scattering of epithermal neutrons from compound-nuclear resonances at the Manuel Lujan Neutron Scattering Center at Los Alamos are discussed. Parity non-conserving asymmetries have been observed for many p-wave resonances in a single target. Measurements were performed on several nuclei in the mass region of A-100 and A-230. The statistical model of the compound nucleus provides a theoretical basis for extracting mean-squared matrix elements from the experimental asymmetry data, and for interpreting the mean-squared matrix elements. The constraints on the weak meson-exchange couplings calculated from the compound-nucleus asymmetry data agree qualitatively with the results from few-body and light-nuclei experiments. For all nuclei but {sup 232}Th measured asymmetries have random signs. For {sup 232}Th eight of eight measured asymmetries are positive. This phenomenon is discussed in terms or doorway models.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 373898
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--96-2146; CONF-9510369--2; ON: TI96012837
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BOSON-EXCHANGE MODELS
CADMIUM 113
COMPOUND NUCLEI
DATA ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INDIUM 115
P INVARIANCE
SILVER 107
SILVER 109
THORIUM 232
URANIUM 238