Neutron-nucleus total cross sections at 5.7 GeV/ c

Abstract

The neutron total cross sections for He, Be, C, Al, Fe, Cu, Cd, W, Pb and U have been measured to an accuracy of 2% at 5.7 ± 0.6 GeV/ c. The total cross section versus atomic weight data was fit to an absorbing uniform grey sphere optical model. The best fit parameters are R = a o A 1 3 where a o = 1.27 ± 0.01 fm, and a nucleon mean free path in nuclear matter of 3.0 ± 0.2 fm. The energy dependence of the nucleon-nucleus total cross sections is discussed in terms of the nucleon-nucleon total cross sections and a screening terms.