Cross sections for neutron-induced reactions from surrogate data: revisiting the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation for $(n,n^{\prime})$ and $(n,2n)$ reactions

Abstract

Earlier work has demonstrated that cross sections for neutron-induced fission and radiative neutron capture can be determined from a combination of surrogate reaction data and theory. For the fission case, it was shown that Weisskopf-Ewing approximation, which significantly simplifies the implementation of the surrogate method, can be employed. Capture cross sections cannot be obtained, and require a detailed description of the surrogate reaction process. In this paper we examine the validity of the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation for determining unknown $(n,n^{\prime})$ and $(n,2n)$ cross sections from surrogate data. We find that peak cross sections can be estimated using the Weisskopf-Ewing approximation, but the shape of the $(n,n^{\prime})$ and $(n,2n)$ cross sections, especially for low neutron energies, cannot be reliably determined without accounting for the angular-momentum differences between the neutron-induced and surrogate reaction. To obtain reliable $(n,n^{\prime})$ and $(n,2n)$ cross sections from surrogate reaction data, a detailed description of the surrogate reaction mechanisms is required. To do so for the compound-nucleus energies and decay channels relevant to these reactions, it becomes necessary to extend current modeling capabilities.