Neutron scattering as a function of angle

[earlgrey]

Hi thanks for reading. Is it possible to derive an explicit formula for the neutron scattering cross section as a function of energy and angle of incident and scattered neutrons respectively? This is for a (n,p) elastic collision with H-1 as the target.

 

[mathman]

I believe (I worked with this many years ago) that the derivation can be done by transforming to the center of mass coordinates and assuming isotropic scattering there.

This assumes the scattering is elastic. Collisions could end up as H2 nuclei.

 

[earlgrey]

Thanks for replying! I have tried this using conservation of energy. However, I cannot find a relation for cross section as a function of energy and angle; only scattering energy as a function of angle. Do you have any hints? I have been looking at <http://mightylib.mit.edu/Course%20Materials/22.101/Fall%202004/Notes/Part3.pdf> for answers but I'm just not sure if it is the correct way to go about it.
Thanks

 

[Meir Achuz]

There is no explicit formula. Hundreds of papers have been written on n-p scattering.

 

[Meir Achuz]

Here is a recent paper with explicit formulas and references:
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1310.2536.pdf

 

[mathman]

For elastic scattering, the energy of the neutron is implicit in transforming to the center of mass. However nuclear reactions other than elastic scattering will be involved. The reference of Achuz is a good place to start.