Spin measurements for 147Sm+n resonances: Further evidence for non-statistical effects

TL;DR

This study determined the spins of resonances in 147Sm(n,gamma), revealing non-statistical effects in neutron-width distributions above 350 eV, challenging the assumption of Porter-Thomas distribution in this energy range.

Contribution

The paper provides new spin assignments for 41 resonances and demonstrates non-statistical behavior in neutron widths above 350 eV, offering insights into nuclear resonance phenomena.

Findings

Most resonances below 700 eV are not missed.

Neutron-width distribution below 350 eV matches Porter-Thomas distribution.

Neutron-width distribution between 350 and 700 eV deviates from Porter-Thomas, fitting a chi-squared distribution.

Abstract

We have determined the spins J of resonances in the 147Sm(n,gamma) reaction by measuring multiplicities of gamma-ray cascades following neutron capture. Using this technique, we were able to determine J values for all but 14 of the 140 known resonances below En = 1 keV, including 41 firm J assignments for resonances whose spins previously were either unknown or tentative. These new spin assignments, together with previously determined resonance parameters, allowed us to extract separate level spacings and neutron strength functions for J = 3 and 4 resonances. Furthermore, several statistical test of the data indicate that very few resonances of either spin have been missed below En = 700eV. Because a non-statistical effect recently was reported near En = 350 eV from an analysis of 147Sm(n,alpha) data, we divided the data into two regions; 0 < En < 350 eV and 350 < En < 700 eV. Using neutron widths from a previous measurement and published techniques for correcting for missed resonances and for testing whether data are consistent with a Porter-Thomas distribution, we found that the reduced-neutron-width distribution for resonances below 350 eV is consistent with the expected Porter-Thomas distribution. On the other hand, we found that reduced-neutron-width data in the 350 < En < 700 eV region are inconsistent with a Porter-Thomas distribution, but in good agreement with a chi-squared distribution having two or more degrees of freedom. We discuss possible explanations for these observed non-statistical effects and their possible relation to similar effects previously observed in other nuclides.