Angular Distributions of Neutrons Inelastically Scattered from Sodium

The angular distribution and total cross section for neutron inelastic scattering proceeding to the first excited state in sodium have been measured by observing the neutron-gamma coincidences. The measured total cross sections for the various neutron energies used are ${\sigma }_T\left(3.49\mathrm{} \mathrm{Mev}\right)=370\mathrm{}\pm 120$ mb, ${\sigma }_T\left(3.75\mathrm{} \mathrm{Mev}\right)=270\mathrm{}\pm 90$ mb, and ${\sigma }_T\left(4.00\mathrm{} \mathrm{Mev}\right)=280\mathrm{}\pm 90$ mb. The differential cross sections were found to be higher in the backward than in the forward directions.