Neutron Scattering Differential Cross Sections for $^{\mathrm{12}}$C

Because of the prevalence of its use in the nuclear energy industry and for our overall understanding of the interactions of neutrons with matter, accurately determining the effects of fast neutrons scattering from $^{\mathrm{12}}$C is important. Previously measured $^{\mathrm{12}}$C inelastic neutron scattering differential cross sections found in the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) show significant discrepancies (\textgreater 30{\%}). Seeking to resolve these discrepancies, neutron inelastic and elastic scattering differential cross sections for $^{\mathrm{12}}$C were measured at the University of Kentucky Acceleratory Laboratory for incident neutron energies of 5.58, 5.83, and 6.04 MeV. Quasi mono-energetic neutrons were scattered off an enriched $^{\mathrm{12}}$C target (\textgreater 99.99{\%}) and detected by a C$_{\mathrm{6}}$D$_{\mathrm{6}}$ liquid scintillation detector. Time-of-flight (TOF) techniques were used to determine scattered neutron energies and allowed for elastic/inelastic scattering distinction. Relative detector efficiencies were determined through direct measurements of neutrons produced by the $^{\mathrm{2}}$H(d,n) and $^{\mathrm{3}}$H(p,n) source reactions, and absolute normalization factors were found by comparing $^{\mathrm{1}}$H scattering measurements to accepted NNDC values. This experimental procedure has been successfully used for prior neutron scattering measurements and seems well-suited to our current objective. Significant challenges were encountered, however, with measuring the neutron detector efficiency over the broad incident neutron energy range required for these measurements.