Neutron-proton elastic scattering from 5 to 30 GeV/c

Abstract

The differential cross section for neutron-proton elastic scattering was measured in the diffraction region with incident neutron momenta between 5 and 30 GeV/c. The experiment was an optical-spark-chamber-counter experiment conducted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory alternating gradient synchrotron. A well collimated neutron beam with a broad energy spectrum was incident on a liquid hydrogen target. The scattered neutrons were detected in a thick-plate spark-chamber array while the recoil protons were detected and momentum analyzed in a magnetic spectrometer with thin-foil spark chambers.The results indicate that the neutron-proton cross sections are very similar to but not identical with the proton-proton cross sections. The diffraction peak in the neutron-proton system does show shrinkage with increasing incident momentum but exhibits no auxiliary structure.