The Thermal-Neutron Capture Cross Section of Deuterium

The 2200 m/sec neutron cross section for deuterium has been determined relative to that for ⁵⁹Co by absolute counting of the ³H and ⁸⁰Co produced by neutron irradiation. The result, expressed in terms of the 2200 m/sec cross section for ⁵⁹Co in b, and of the tritium half-life in years, is (1.104 ± 0.014 × 10^-3) [σ₀(⁵⁹Co)] [t1/2(³H)] mb. Assuming σ₀(⁵⁹Co) = 37.4 ± 0.3 b and t1/2(³H) = 12.262 ± 0.004 years, gives σ₀ (D) = 0.506 ± 0.010 mb. The standard deviation of the mean value from 8 irradiations was ± 0.2%.