Spectra of neutrons inelastically scattered on U²³⁸

Abstract

The spectra of neutrons, inelastically scattered on U²³⁸ have been measured with a Wilson cloud chamber. The neutron source was a heavy-ice target, bombarded by accelerated deuterons. The mean initial neutron energies were 2.5 and 3.5 Mev. The scatterer was a spherical layer of impoverished uranium 18 mm thick. The target was centered in the scatterer. The energy distribution for the inelastically scattered neutrons was measured in the energy range from 100 to 1,300 key and is in agreement with the statistical theory. The most probable energy for the scattered neutrons is about 275 kev for neutrous with an initial energy of 2.5 Mev and about 375 kev for neutrons with an initial energy of 3.5 Mev.