(n, xn) cross sections on 56,57Fe

The Gamma Array for Inelastic Neutron Scattering (GAINS) operated at the Geel Linear Accelerator (GELINA) neutron source was used to measure ( n ,x n ) cross sections on 56,57 Fe reaching a level of uncertainty of the order of 5%. Serious difficulties arise in case of the 57 Fe isotope from the fact that the first excited level has an energy of only 14 keV and its decay could not be observed. Therefore a delicate combination of experimental and theoretical approaches have to be used to infer the inelastic cross section. The particularities of the two measurements are presented concentrating on the approaches allowing us to overcome specific problems in each case.