High Resolution Measurements of the Total Neutron Cross Sections of Nitrogen and Iron

The total neutron cross sections of nitrogen and iron have been measured with high resolution (0.035 nsec/m) in the neutron energy range from 0.5 to 9.0 MeV. The nitrogen measurements have provided evidence that a recently reported discrepancy in the total nonelastic cross section is not a result of errors in the total neutron cross section. The iron cross section obtained was found to be in best agreement with the recent Karlsruhe data with respect to the positions and presence of structure; however, the present measurements have revealed cross sections in the valleys which are lower. Comparisons are made of the present measurements on nitrogen and iron with previous measurements.