Total Cross Section of Nitrogen for Fast Neutrons

Abstract

The total neutron cross section of nitrogen has been measured for neutron energies from 0.15 to 1.45 Mev. Resonances in the total cross section are observed at 0.433, 0.640, 1.00, 1.12, 1.35, and 1.45 Mev. The second, third, and last of these resonances correspond in energy to resonances observed in the disintegration of nitrogen. Application of the nuclear dispersion theory indicates that the resonances at 0.64 and 1.00 Mev are caused by neutrons of zero orbital angular momentum forming compound states of spin ½ and $\frac{3}{2}$, respectively. An experiment is proposed which would, in conjunction with these measurements, determine the relative parity of ${\mathrm{C}}^{14}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$.