Total Cross Section ofLi6for Neutrons

Abstract

The total cross section of ${\mathrm{Li}}^6$ for neutrons has been measured for neutron energies from 0.035 to 4.2 Mev. A resonance was observed with its maximum at 0.255±0.010 Mev, which corresponds to 7.46-Mev excitation energy in ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$. The observed width of the resonance at half-maximum is 100 kev. It is interpreted according to the nuclear dispersion theory as resulting from $p$ neutrons forming a state of total angular momentum $\frac{5}{2}$. The cross section rises gradually in the region from 1.5 Mev to 4.2 Mev.