SHAPE OF THE 238U NEUTRON CAPTURE CROSS SECTION IN THE RANGE 0.002-0.1 eV


Francesco Corvi, Gabriele Fioni*

Commission of the European Communities
Joint Research Centre - Geel-Establishment
Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements, 2440 Geel, Belgium


The relative neutron capture cross section of 238U has been measured in the range 0.002-0.1 eV using a short flight path of the Geel linac and a special liquid methane moderator. The results are in keeping with an approximate 1/v dependence of this cross section and disagree with the surmise of Santamarina et al., who foresee a resonance at E0 = -0.005 eV.

KEYWORDS: 238U, capture cross section, range 0.002-0.1 eV