From 232Th(n, n’γ) cross sections to level production and total neutron inelastic scattering cross sections

To probe the neutron inelastic scattering off 232Th, an experiment took place at the EC-JRC Geel conducted with the experimental setup GRAPhEME to detect emitted γ-rays. The prompt γ-ray spectroscopy method was used and 70 experimental 232Th(n, n’γ) cross sections were obtained from the experimental data. Combining these cross sections, nuclear-structure data available in databases and hypotheses to complete the latter, neutron inelastic level production cross sections in 232Th and the total inelastic cross section were calculated. For the first time, the total inelastic cross section of an actinide nucleus was derived on the total neutron energy range from experimental data only. Comparisons of (n, n’) cross section data with evaluated data reveal a good agreement between them all above 300 keV of neutron energy. TALYS calculations are compatible but lower than the evaluated data.