Small-angle neutron scattering from Pb and 238U between 0.6 and 2.2 MeV

Differential cross sections for neutrons scattered from natural Pb and 99.9 % isotopically pure ²³⁸U have been measured at 0.5°, 1.0°, and 1.5°. A neutron energy continuum was produced by bombarding a thick natural lithium target with a 4 MeV, nanosecond-pulsed proton beam. Neutron energies were determined by time-of-flight techniques. Flight paths from the neutron source to the scatterer and from the scatterer to the detector were each about 5 m. For the 0.5° measurements an annular detector geometry with an angular resolution of ± 0.1° was developed to maximize detection solid angle. Data were averaged over 100 keV intervals from 0.6 to 2.2 MeV and were corrected for backgrounds, multiple scattering and inelastic scattering. Measured cross sections were compared to optical-model calculations which included electromagnetic interactions of neutrons with the nuclear Coulomb field. Inclusion of an induced neutron electric dipole moment interaction was not warranted by the data. The angular dependence of the cross section was fitted with a function $\text{A + B}\text{cot}{}^2\text{case1}\text{2}$θ at each energy. Mean values of B for ²³⁸U are in agreement with theoretical predictions. Values of B for Pb are apparently 15 % too low.