Total, scattering, and gamma production cross sections for few-MeV neutrons on elemental copper

Cross sections are measured for the dominant neutron interactions with elemental copper in the few-MeV energy range with resolutions of 50 to 100 keV. The processes considered are total interaction from 1.2 to 4.5 MeV, elastic scattering from 1.5 to 4.0 MeV, inelastic scattering from 2.0 to 4.0 MeV for excitation energies <3 MeV, and inelastic-scattering γ-ray production from 0.6 to 2.2 MeV. The results are mutually consistent within the experimental errors. A spherical optical-statistical model is found to describe the major features of this experiment well. However, the scattering from several low-lying levels exhibits forward peaking which may indicate the need for the inclusion of the direct-interaction mechanism. This is estimated using the coupled-channels method, assuming a psub(3/2) proton coupled to an even-even nickel core. (orig.)