Differential neutron production cross sections for 597-MeV protons

Differential (p,xn) cross sections were measured at emission angles of 30, 60, 120, and 150 deg for the 597-MeV proton bombardment of thin targets of elemental beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, aluminum, iron, lead, and depleted uranium. Time-of-flight techniques were used to determine the neutron energy spectrum and to identify and discriminate against backgrounds. Comparisons of the experimental data with intranuclear-cascade evaporation model calculations using the HETC code show good agreement for lead and uranium, but there are discrepancies for the light elements, predominantly at forward angles. Comparison with a previous experiment shows good agreement only for heavy nuclei in the evaporation region at neutron energies below 20 MeV