Measurement of the H(n,n)H Elastic Scattering Angular Distribution at En = 15 MeV

We have undertaken an experiment to measure the relative differential cross section for neutron scattering from hydrogen at a neutron energy of 15 MeV, for center-of-mass scattering angles from 60 degrees to 180 degrees. A total of eleven E-E telescopes were used to detect the scattered protons at laboratory angles of 0, +/-12, +/-24, +/-36, +/-48, and +/-60 degrees. This experiment is intended to extend the earlier work performed by this group at 10.04 MeV. To avoid possible dead-time problems and amplifier summing noise a unique approach to data acquisition was taken The data acquisition is based on eleven individual data-acquisition boards, one for each detector telescope, installed in separate personal computers, each running independently. In this way, no multiplexing of the detector signals is required, and the noise associated with the summing of the signals is eliminated. Also an additional acquisition board and personal computer are used for a neutron detector, with gamma-ray discrimination, as a neutron monitor. A detailed description of the data-acquisition system will be given, and results from preliminary experiments will be presented.