The Disintegration of the Deuteron by Neutron Impact

The method of distorted waves is applied consistently to the calculation of the cross section for disintegration of deuterons by neutrons. At an incident neutron energy of 11.5 MeV. the cross section calculated for the process (6.4 × 10 -25 cm 2 ) is about one-third that obtained in previous calculations but is nevertheless an order of magnitude greater than that indicated by the rather meagre experimental data. The calculated cross section is also larger than the maximum permitted by considerations of the conservation laws. This indicates that the n-d interaction is so strong that the requirements for the validity of the distorted wave method are not satisfied. At an incident neutron energy of 5.1 MeV. where it is considerably less than the permitted maximum, the calculated cross section is of the same order of magnitude as that deduced indirectly from measurements of the p-d disintegration cross section, allowing for the effects of the electrostatic repulsion between the proton and the deuteron.