Elsevier

Nuclear Physics

Volume 19, September–December 1960, Pages 500-510
Nuclear Physics

The interaction of 40–160 MeV neutrons with helium nuclei

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Abstract

The collisions of 40–160 MeV neutrons with helium nuclei have been observed in a high pressure diffusion cloud chamber in a magnetic field of 12 kG. Results are presented for the angular distribution of elastically scattered neutrons in the energy ranges 40–80, 80–120 and 120–160 MeV. These are analysed using an optical model of the interaction with the Bjorklund-Fernbach radial variation and potentials adjusted to give the measured absorption and total cross-section. The calculated distribution falls below the experimental at backward angles due to the neglect of exchange reactions by the optical model. Agreement may be obtained by using an abnormally small value of the diffuseness of the nuclear surface. The energy distribution is given for the identified He3 recoils resulting from neutron stripping. Although it has not been possible to carry out a detailed analysis of the observed inelastic events it is concluded that the inelastic cross section is approximately constant at about 100 mb over the energy range 80–160 MeV.

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