Measurements and calculations of ²³⁸U(n,xn γ) partial γ-ray cross sections

Absolute partial cross sections for production of 45 discrete γ rays in the ²³⁸;U(n,xn) reactions with x ≤4 are reported for incident-neutron energies in the range 1 MeV<E_n<100 MeV. A germanium-detector array for γ-ray detection and the "white"- neutron source at LANSCE/WNR were used for the measurement. The energy of the incident neutrons was determined using the time-of-flight technique. The data are compared with previous measurements and with theoretical predictions up to E_n=30 MeV from the GNASH reaction model. The combination of experimental results with theoretical calculations provides a means to deduce the ²³⁸U(n, n′) reaction cross section.