AbstractsPhysics

The study of neutron capture cross-sections is of interest in nuclear reactions. Of major importance in this study is the compound nucleus theory - a concept which was first proposed by Bohr. When an incident particle bits the nucleus, the compound nucleus is formed. This compound nucleus decays subsequently, and the decay is independent of the mode of its formation. In other words the compound nucleus has no memory of the past. This is called 'The Independence Hypothesis' by Weisskopf. Experiments do indicate that at low energies the compound nucleus is very often formed. The compound nucleus picture explains the very narrow resonances observed in elastic scattering of slow neutrons.