Effects of Chemical Binding on the Neutron Cross Section of Hydrogen

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Abstract
Fermi derived the energy dependence of the neutron scattering cross section of hydrogen chemically bound such that it acts as a harmonic oscillator. For comparison with this theory, the total cross section was measured with a high-resolution crystal spectrometer for hydrogen bound in four materials. In zirconium and yttrium hydrides, in which chemical bonding is relatively isotropic, the predicted structure with discrete energy levels is observed. In the less isotropic magnesium hydride, there is some evidence of energy levels, although not clearly resolved. For water the variation in the cross section is smooth, with no evidence of energy levels.