Spin Correlation Effect on the Slow Neutron Scattering by Polyatomic Molecules with Particular Reference to Methane

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Abstract
Zemach and Glauber's approximation for the nuclear spin correlation effect on the slow neutron scattering by polyatomic gas is studied carefully with particular reference to methane. It is shown that the partial differential incoherent scattering cross section based on the above approximation deviates appreciably from the exact one at low temperature. It is pointed out that the mentioned deviation comes principally from an incorrect treatment of the transition amplitude connected with F-states of methane with failure of the condition of detailed balance.