Total neutron-nucleus cross sections at intermediate energies

Total neutron cross sections have been measured for the nuclei Be, C, O, Al, V, Mn, Co, Cu, Ag, Ce, Ta, Pb, Bi and U at 22 energies from 160 MeV to 575 MeV by the transmission method. The energy region contains the threshold for pion production. Different parametrizations of the experimental results are discussed. A test of charge symmetry was obtained from the proton- and neutron-induced cross sections on C and O, yielding <(σp-σn)/σp> = 0.0012 ± 0.0059. (orig.)