The reaction 23Na(n, γ)24Na studied with unpolarized and polarized thermal neutrons

The γ-radiation produced by thermal neutron capture in a natural Na sample has been investigated. Of the 158 γ-rays ascribed to the ²³Na(n, γ)²⁴Na reaction, 143 have been placed in a ²⁴Na decay scheme accounting for 100(2) % of the total primary strength. The reaction Q-value amounts to 6959.42 ± 0.08 keV. The data resulted in spin assignments for four and spin restrictions for six levels.The circular polarization of 14 γ-rays from the capture of polarized neutrons has been measured. The contribution of the J^π = 2⁺ channel in thermal capture was determined to be below 5 %.