Depolarization of Neutrons During Diffusion

Abstract

A theoretical analysis is given of the depolarization to be expected when a plane, monochromatic, polarized beam of thermal neutrons is incident normally on a slab of finite thickness in which the neutrons are scattered isotropically and without capture. The problem reduces to the solution of an integro-differential equation of the Wiener-Hopf type. The equation is solved approximately by a method of G. C. Wick. Experimental possibilities for measuring the scattering amplitudes by this method even in the case where neutron-nuclear forces are not very spin-dependent, are excellent. The case where the capture cross section is different from zero is also included.