Recent results of neutron inelastic scattering to higher-excited levels in 232Th and 238U

Neutron inelastic scattering cross sections for levels of 232Th and 238U between 680 and 1200 keV excitation energy have been measured in the neutron energy range 0.9 to 1.5 MeV. Nearly monoenergetic neutrons were generated using the 7Li(p,n) reaction initiated by a pulsed proton beam produced by a Van de Graaff accelerator using terminal pulsing in conjunction with a Mobley bunching system. Scattered neutrons were observed with a time-of-flight spectrometer with experimental parameters chosen to yield an overall energy resolution of 12 to 15 keV for inelastically scattered neutrons. Level cross sections were deduced from measured 1250-differential scattering cross sections. Excitation functions were compared with our own previous (n,n'γ) measurements, recent theoretical calculations and the ENDF/B-V evaluations. [232Th(n,n'), 238U(n,n'), sigma(E/sub n/, theta = 1250, E/sub n/ = 0.9 to 1.5 MeV, neutron time-of-flight; deduced level cross sections, estimated EO branching ratios]