Calculation of neutron transport cross section

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating neutron transport cross sections from thermal scattering cross sections for water and heavy water. The mean free paths provided are 0.37 cm for water and 2.2 cm for heavy water, with corresponding transport cross sections of 0.45 cm and 2.6 cm. A formula is mentioned for macroscopic transport cross section, but the values of 1-cos(theta) used yield significantly different results from those in the referenced book. It is noted that using theta in thermal energy calculations is inappropriate due to isotropic scattering in this energy range. The original poster remains confused about reconciling their calculations with the book's values.
Kritmiss
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I have a book on nuclear reactions which details the mean free paths for thermal neutron scattering as:
0.37cm for water and
2.2cm for heavy water

The transport cross sections are listed as 0.45cm for water and 2.6cm for heavy water. Does anyone know how to calculate these from the thermal scattering cross sections?

Thanks!
 
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macroscopic transport cross section=macroscopic scattering cross section *(1-cos(theta))
or generally
macroscopic cross section=1/mean free path

for water 1-cos(theta)=0.324 and 0.116 for heavy water
 
Where do these values of 1-cos(theta) come from?

If I use them, I obtain very different values of transport cross section than those in my book. These values of 1-cos(theta) give 1.14cm for water and 19.16cm for heavy water?
 
Thanks for the text, it was useful.

However, I am still unable to arrive at the values for the transport mean free paths which were stated in my book on nuclear reactions, and I do not understand where your values come from.

Thanks again for trying to help
 
Stephan_doc said:
macroscopic transport cross section=macroscopic scattering cross section *(1-cos(theta))
or generally
macroscopic cross section=1/mean free path

for water 1-cos(theta)=0.324 and 0.116 for heavy water

Its not right to use theta in thermal energy because in thermal area of energy scattering is isotropic!
 
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