Finite-Sample-Size Effects in Nuclear Cross-Section Fluctuations

Abstract

The question of bias and error due to finite sample size is considered, and it is suggested that these effects may be computed by replacing the excitation function with a number of independent cross sections. It is argued that the effective number of independent cross sections is given by $n=\left(\frac{\Delta E}{\pi {\Gamma }_0}\right)+1\mathrm{}$ as long as the energy range $\Delta E$ is not too great. The results of some Monte Carlo calculations are also given.