The photoneutron cross section of 7Li

Abstract The 7 Li photoneutron cross section was measured from threshold to 19.5 MeV using bremsstrahlung from an electron synchrotron. The accelerator was operated using yield scanning techniques. Neutrons were detected by an array of high-efficiency BF 3 counters. The cross section shows one major maximum at 17 MeV, and some less prominent structure at 13.75 MeV and 14.65 MeV. A small resonance was observed at 7.46 MeV which can be attributed to an M1 transition to the known 7.456 MeV, 5 2 − state, in 7 Li.