Theoretical estimates of cross sections for neutron-nucleus collisions

TL;DR

This paper introduces an analytical nuclear reaction model that accurately estimates neutron-nucleus cross sections across a wide energy range, aiding various nuclear applications.

Contribution

The paper presents a simple, analytical model derived from nuclear reaction theory that effectively estimates neutron-nucleus cross sections over a broad energy and mass range.

Findings

Model demonstrates good agreement with measured cross sections.

Systematics useful for neutron scattering applications.

Provides estimates for neutron-induced reaction cross sections.

Abstract

We construct an analytical model derived from nuclear reaction theory and having a simple functional form to demonstrate the quantitative agreement with the measured cross sections for neutron induced reactions. The neutron-nucleus total, reaction and scattering cross sections, for energies ranging from 5 to 700 MeV and for several nuclei spanning a wide mass range are estimated. Systematics of neutron scattering cross sections on various materials for neutron energies upto several hundred MeV are important for ADSS applications. The reaction cross sections of neutrons are useful for determining the neutron induced fission yields in actinides and pre-actinides. The present model based on nuclear reaction theory provides good estimates of the total cross section for neutron induced reaction.