The Scattering of 4.5- and 5.5-Mev Neutrons by Deuterons

By bombarding a thin deuterium gas target with deuterons 4.5- and 5.5-Mev neutrons were produced. Deuterons recoiling from neutron collisions in (a) a thin heavy paraffin scatterer and (b) a gas sample were detected by a double coincidence counter telescope. The angular distribution of recoiling deuterons, measured from 0^∘{} to 60^∘{} in the laboratory system, shows a sharp maximum for neutron scattering at 180^∘{} with a minimum at approximately 110^∘{} in the center-of-mass system. The ratio of the differential cross section at 180^∘{} to that at 110^∘{} is 5:1 for both energies. The experimental curves are compared with the theory of Buckingham and Massey.