Direct evidence for inelastic neutron "acceleration" by 177Lum.

Authors :: Roig, O.
Méot, V.
Rossé, B.
Bélier, G.
Daugas, J.-M.
Letourneau, A.
Menelle, A.
Morel, P.
Source :: Physical Review C: Nuclear Physics. Jun2011, Vol. 83 Issue 6, p64617:1-64617:6. 6p.
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: The inelastic neutron acceleration cross section on the long-lived metastable state of 177Lu has been measured using a direct method. High-energy neutrons have been detected using a specially designed setup placed on a cold neutron beam extracted from the ORPHEE reactor in Saclay. The 146 ± 19 b inelastic neutron acceleration cross section in the ORPHEE cold neutron flux confirms the high cross section for this process on the 177Lum isomer. The deviation from the 258 ± 58 b previously published obtained for a Maxwellian neutron flux at a 323 K temperature could be explained by the presence of a low energy resonance. Resonance parameters are deduced and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]