Neutron capture cross section of Th232 measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN in the unresolved resonance region up to 1 MeV

Abstract

We have measured the neutron capture reaction yield of Th232 at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN in the energy range from 1 eV to 1 MeV. The average capture cross section has been extracted in the energy range from 4 keV up to 1 MeV with an overall accuracy better than 4%. An independent IAEA evaluation shows good agreement with the data. The average cross section has been expressed in terms of average resonance parameters using the partial waves l=0,1, and 2. © 2006 The American Physical Society.