Semimicroscopic calculations of elastic, inelastic, and total neutron scattering by 239Pu in the energy range 10 keV < or =E/sub n/< or =10 MeV

We investigate the capabilities of a semimicroscopic optical model potential involving fewer adjustable parameters than phenomenological models and test the sensitivity of this potential to various rotational band assumptions. Our analysis of the model capabilities is performed using experimental elastic, inelastic, and total cross sections as well as experimental neutron strength functions. We compare our calculations to these experiments and to the predictions of a phenomenological model. Our sensitivity study is performed for the first three rotational bands of 239Pu. The two main ingredients of our calculations are the microscopic optical-model potential of Jeukenne, Lejeune, and Mahaux and nuclear densities from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the density-dependent force D1