Neutron resonance spectroscopy for n+⁵²Cr: Total and differential elastic scattering cross sections

Neutron total and elastic scattering cross sections have been measured over the neutron energy range 0.040–1.55 MeV. Spins and parities have been deduced for 90% of the resonances observed in the n+⁵²Cr reaction up to 1.05 MeV. This work brings into doubt a previously claimed parity dependence of the level spacing in ⁵³Cr. We have used an R-matrix analysis to obtain resonance parameters for 194 resonances up to 1.05 MeV and strengths and level spacings for partial waves up to and including d_5/2. The conventional s-, p-, and d-wave strength functions have been determined to be 3.5±1.0, 0.44±0.08, and 2.9±0.4, respectively (in units of 10^-4). This is the first work to report d-wave strength in this nuclide, identifying 87 additional resonances in this group. This, in turn, has resulted in a significant increase in the p-wave level spacing compared to that of two other similar works. Evidence is presented to explain differences among evaluated nuclear data files for this nuclide in terms of the influence of the strength outside the region upon the background cross section.