Cross sections, angular distributions, and magnetic substate populations in the 23Na(n,n'γ) reaction

Neutron inelastic scattering cross sections have been determined for six levels in 23Na over the incident neutron energy range 0.52 to 4.23 MeV by measuring the γ-ray production cross sections for 10 deexcitation γ transitions in the 23Na(n,n'γ) reaction. γ-ray angular distributions from the first two excited levels were obtained at various incident neutron energies. From these, the magnetic substate populations were evaluated for the 0.440-MeV (5/2+) first excited level and the 2.078-MeV (7/2+) second excited level in 23Na. Comparisons have been made between the distributions and magnetic substate populations calculated from compound-nuclear and direct-interaction theory, the former yielding better agreement in the interpretation of experimental results