Fast neutron radiative capture in silicon

Using the²⁸Si(n, γ)²⁹Si reaction, transitions to the ground state and first excited state in²⁹Si have been studied in the neutron energy range 3–14 MeV with improved neutron energy resolution (of about 100 keV). The 90° cross sections show considerable structure in the entire neutron energy range. Comparison with theoretical calculations shows that compound-nucleus and direct-semidirect processes account for the non-resonant part (smoothly varying part) of the cross section. A microscopic model is, however, required to describe the resonance structure. Continuum shell-model calculations have proven to be a very promising means towards a better understanding of the capture process in, and below, the giant resonance region in light nuclei. The angular distributions of gamma rays in the neutron energy range 8–14 MeV indicate that the capture reaction is mainly of direct character and that the effect of interference between the electric dipole and isoscalar quadrupole resonance is weak.