A Determination of the Carbon Thermal Neutron Capture Cross Section

The neutron capture cross section of carbon has been determined relative to that of hydrogen by direct observation of the gamma rays associated with the reaction. Assuming the gamma rays considered account for the total decay, a value of 3.50 ± 0.16 mb is obtained. New values of the intensities of transitions belonging to the aluminum neutron-capture gamma-ray spectrum obtained in the course of this work are also reported.