Total cross-section measurement of neutron interaction with protons and nuclei in the energy range from 26 to 54 GeV

The energy dependence of the total cross sections for neutron-nucleus interactions in the range of 30-60 GeV is studied. The results are compared with predictions from Glauber theory and from the energy dependence of nucleon-nucleon cross sections. The measurements were carried out with the classical method of knocking out of the beam, taking into account the possibility of using a detector with very small angular dimensions and thick targets. By this, Coulomb scattering of the particles in the target was eliminated. For the total cross section measurements on hydrogen and deuterium, non-cryogenic liquid targets of heptane (C7H16) and benzene (C6H6) - for the np-cross section -and D2O and H2O - for the nd-cross section - were used. Neutron-nuclei interactions were studied for Pb, Al, Cu, Sn, O, C targets. The total np- and nd-cross sections were measured for beam momenta of 35,50 amd 70 GeV/c. In the investigated energy range a decrease of the np- and nd-total cross sections with increasing energy is observed. The Glauber correction is calculated. The total cross sections for nuetron-nuclei interactions in C, O, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb are measured. For all studied nuclei the total cross section decreases with increasing energy. The dependence of the total cross section for neutron-nucleus interactions on the atomic number is given. Glauber theory with inelastic screening describes well the experimental data, if one assumes that the total cross section for nucleon-nucleon interactions, or at least for np-interactions, continues to decrease with energy in the range of 30-60 GeV