Statistical Model Calculations of Fe56 Neutron Cross Sections.

Calculates certain neutron cross sections for Fe-56 and compares results with available experimental data. The unknown excited states of the daughter nucleus at states higher than the highest experimental results were characterized by means of Kanestrom's theory, which describes the number density of the high-lying states as a function of excitation energy and nuclear spin. The Kanestrom statistical model was grafted onto the NEARREX computer program (see RM-5899). The revised code generates excited states for both (n,p) and (nn') reactions and accounts for the competition between these reactions. The single particle level spacing, the spin parameter, and the pairing energy parameter were chosen to fit 4 independent sets of data: the experimental values for the distribution of excited states of Fe-56 and Mn-56, and also the total low energy (nn') and (n,p) cross sections on Fe-56. Subsequent calculations, based on these parameters, were self-consistent over a wide range of high neutron energies and agreed with the experimental data. 35 pp. Ref. (MW)