Dispersive optical-model potential parameters for neutron scattering on 197Au up to 200 MeV

Abstract

In this study, dispersive optical model (DOM) potential parameters were derived for the ¹⁹⁷Au target nucleus up to an incident neutron energy of 200 MeV. The procedure involved fitting the theoretical total cross sections σ_tot with the experimental ones and thereby determining the valid free potential parameters at the lowest value of ${\chi }^2/M$. The contribution of compound nuclei mechanism at low energies was also incorporated in the calculations. The theoretical results obtained using the derived potential were compared to the experimental data for both the angular differential cross-section and the elastic cross-section. While there was a good agreement with the experimental values for the total cross section, a satisfactory agreement was achieved for the angular cross section. The obtained potential is useful for describing the n+¹⁹⁷Au scattering system and its outputs over an extensive energy spectrum.