The Scattering and Absorption Cross Section of Neutrons in Cobalt

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A low voltage neutron source is described which employs the deuteron-deuteron reaction with a continuously renewable target of N${\mathrm{D}}_{4}$Cl. Such a target is formed by subliming N${\mathrm{D}}_{4}$Cl on a metal target cooled with solid C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. Neutrons so obtained have been used to study the absorption and scattering cross sections of cobalt. The sum of the absorption and scattering cross sections for cobalt is 26.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, and the scattering cross section alone, is for $C$ neutrons 5.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, and for $D$ neutrons 3.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The anomalously large scattering cross sections of iron and nickle are thus seen to be independent of their ferromagnetism since the cobalt cross section is essentially normal in magnitude.