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Fast neutron inelastic scattering cross sections of /sup 238/U

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5261283
Neutron inelastic scattering cross sections for /sup 238/U levels between 680 keV and 1530 keV excitation energy have been measured in the incident neutron energy range from 0.9 to 2.2 MeV. As a highly deformed actinide nucleus, /sup 238/U possesses a complicated level structure and level transition properties, so the (n,n') time-of-flight (TOF) techniques were used to obtain direct level cross sections. Neutrons were generated using the /sup 7/Li(p,n) reaction. In order to achieve the required energy resolution of less than 15 keV the parameters of our (n,n') TOF spectrometer were optimized. Level cross sections were deduced from measured 125/sup 0/-differential scattering cross sections. The validity of this procedure was confirmed by measuring the angular distributions for 9 levels at E/sub n/ = 1.5 MeV and E/sub n/ = 2.0 MeV, respectively. In the data analysis the additional background due to fission in /sup 238/U scatterer induced by fast neutron was simulated and subtracted. The TOF spectra were unfolded by using the method of response function. The correction factors of multiple scattering and neutron attenuation for disc scatterer were calculated by using analytic method coded for a small minicomputer. The excitation functions obtained were compared with our previous (n,n'..gamma..) results, with those of ORNL measurements, with ENDF/B-V evaluations, and with recent theoretical calculations.
Research Organization:
Lowell Univ., MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5261283
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English