Neutron elastic and inelastic cross section measurements on silicon from 0.8–8 MeV

Neutron elastic and inelastic scattering differential cross sections were measured at angles between 30∘ and 155∘ with incident neutron energies between 0.8 and 8 MeV. The measured differential scattering cross sections are compared to existing measurements and the ENDF/B-VIII.0, the JEFF-3.3, and the JENDL-4.0 data evaluations, as well as theoretical calculations from the TALYS-1.95 nuclear reaction code. Our results are reasonably well described by values from the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 compilations. However, below 4 MeV, our backward-angle elastic scattering results tend to be lower than database/calculated values, suggesting that less recoil damage would occur than expected. Above 6 MeV, larger backward-angle cross sections are observed suggesting the opposite. Deexcitation γ rays produced in the inelastic scattering process were also studied for neutron energies between 1.9 and 4.5 MeV. Neutron inelastic scattering cross sections deduced from 28Si(n,nγ1) γ-ray production cross sections confirm our 28Si(n,n1) results. To the extent that data from GELINA and our experimental results can be compared, we have excellent agreement between the neutron inelastic scattering cross sections.