Total neutron cross-sections of Na, K, and Ca between 4 and 6 MeV

Abstract

Total neutron cross-sections in the energy range from 4.2 to 6.2 MeV are measured for sodium, potassium and calcium using the transmission method. Mono-energetic neutrons are produced via the reaction D(d, n)He 3 in a deuterium gas target with the deuteron beam of a 3 MeV Van de Graaff generator. A neutron energy resolution of about 30 KeV is achieved. The transmission is measured with a stilbene scintillation spectrometer in steps of about 50 keV. The cross-sections clearly exhibit pronounced structures with widths of 100–150 keV which are very probably due to statistical fluctuations of the compound nucleus level density.