A comparative study of measured neutron cross-sections with statistical model calculations

Elastic and inelastic scattering cross-sections are of direct relevance for the modeling of the neutron transport in nuclear energy systems. Inelastic scattering cross-sections are of particular relevance for accelerator-driven systems since this process determines the degradation of the primary neutron spectrum produced by the spallation source. Usually elastic scattering makes a sizeable contribution to the total neutron interaction cross-section. The total and the elastic scattering cross-section can be measured with small uncertainties. Hence, the difference of the total and the elastic cross-section is an important constraint for the sum of all other reaction cross-sections. Since this involves the difference of two numbers of similar magnitudes, precise data are required