Distribution of Partial Neutron Widths for Nuclei close to a Maximum of the Neutron Strength Function

TL;DR

This paper derives a universal energy dependence for s-wave partial neutron widths near a maximum of the neutron strength function, challenging the traditional square root E model and impacting neutron resonance data analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a new universal form for the energy dependence of neutron widths near a maximum of the neutron strength function.

Findings

Derived the universal energy dependence form for neutron widths.

Showed significant impact on neutron resonance data analysis.

Challenged the canonical square root E dependence.

Abstract

For nuclei near a maximum of the neutron strength function, the secular dependence on energy E of s-wave partial neutron widths differs from the canonical form given by the square root of E. We derive the universal form of that dependence and show that it is expected to significantly influence the analysis of neutron resonance data.