Correcting for neutron width fluctuations in Hauser-Feshbach gamma branching ratios

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple correction method for neutron width fluctuations that affect decay probability calculations in nuclear physics, improving the accuracy of models near decay thresholds.

Contribution

A new correction technique for Hauser-Feshbach calculations that accounts for Porter-Thomas neutron width fluctuations in nuclear decay modeling.

Findings

Improved decay probability predictions near thresholds.

Effective correction method for neutron width fluctuations.

Enhanced modeling accuracy in nuclear decay simulations.

Abstract

Porter-Thomas fluctuations of neutron widths skew compound nuclear decay probabilities from their statistical Hauser-Feshbach values. We present a straightforward method to correct Hauser-Feshbach calculations for these fluctuations, useful for modeling near-threshold competition between gamma and neutron emission following beta decay or when standard width fluctuation corrections are inadequate.