¹⁶⁵Ho fast neutron cross sections

Abstract

Total neutron cross sections of¹⁶⁵ Ho were measured from 0.1 to 1.5 MeV with resolutions of ≲ 2.5 keV. The observed total cross sections varied slowly with energy and displayed no significant structure. Differential neutron elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections were determined at intervals of ≲50keV from 0.3 to 1.5 MeV. The inelastic excitation of states in¹⁶⁵Ho at; 98, 214, 371, 460, 517, 586, 712, 824, 995, 1104 and 1143 keV was positively observed with probably identification of several additional states. The observed excited structure and the respective cross sections were correlated with known single-particle and collective states and with excited structure postulated from systematics. The measured cross sections were compared with calculated values based upon spherical and deformed optical-potentials, and compound-nuclear processes. Total cross sections were best described by a spherical potential while the differential elastic angular distributions were better represented by deformed-potential calculations. Resonance interference effects were found small and, at the energies of the present experiments, the contribution of direct processes was not large.