$^{56}$Fe Inelastic Neutron Scattering Cross Sections Deduced from $\gamma $-Ray Production Cross Sections

Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections have been deduced from $\gamma $-ray production cross sections for $^{56}$Fe. Measurements were made at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory using the neutron production and detection facilities located there. A natural iron sample (91.72{\%} isotopic abundance of $^{56}$Fe) was bombarded with a nearly mono-energetic incident neutron beam with energies in a range from 1.5-4.7 MeV. Gamma-ray excitation functions were determined for each observed $\gamma $ ray in this energy range; from these, branching ratios and $\gamma $-ray production cross sections were determined and neutron scattering cross sections deduced. Gamma-ray excitation functions were also measured for $^{27}$Al, $^{48}$Ti, and $^{51}$V to investigate using the deduced neutron scattering cross sections as standards to normalize absolutely the $^{56}$Fe cross sections. Cross sections determined in this work are compared to evaluated data from the National Nuclear Data Center.