Excitation Function forFe56(n, p)Mn56

Abstract

The relative cross section for ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{56}(n, p){\mathrm{Mn}}^{56}$ has been measured by an activation method for neutron energies of 3.4 to 8.2 and 12.4 to 17.9 Mev, and normalized to the previously known value of 110±10 mb at 14.3 Mev. The cross section rises above the minimum detectable value of 0.2 mb at about 4.5 Mev, reaches a maximum of 116 mb at 13.5 Mev, and decreases to 62 mb at 17.9 Mev. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of statistical theory; the fit, although good in the vicinity of maximum yield, is poor at lower energies, the predicted yield being considerably too small. Cross sections for ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{54}(n, 2n){\mathrm{Fe}}^{53}$ were also roughly determined at 16.9 and 17.9 Mev.