FAST-NEUTRON INTERACTION WITH COLLECTIVE CADMIUM NUCLEI

Differential neutron-Scattering cross sections of elemental cadmium are measured from approximately 1.5 to 10 MeV. From approximately 1.5 to 3.0 MeV the measurements are made at approximately 100 keV incident-neutron energy intervals and at 10 scattering angles distributed between almost-equal-to 20-degrees and 160-degrees. From 3 to 4 MeV the measurements are made at approximately 200 keV intervals and 20 angles. Above 4 MeV the interval is approximately 0.5 MeV with greater-than-or-equal-to 40 differential values at each energy, distributed between approximately 18-degrees and 160-degrees. Differential cross sections for the excitation of observed ''levels'' at 0.0 (elastic), 0.589 +/- 0.047, 1.291 +/- 0.066 and 1.839 +/- 0.057 MeV are determined, with attention to the direct excitation of the yrast 2+ levels of the even isotopes, and of the 3/2+ and 5/2+ levels of the odd isotopes. Optical-statistical, dispersive-optical and coupled-channels interpretations are carried out and comparisons made with ''global'' parameters. Consideration is given to the fundamental nature of the real potential in the vicinity of the Fermi surface with implications on the equation of state and the reduced mass.