
%0 Journal Article
%A Alexander, N 
%A Amos, K 
%T Role of an Electron Screened Mott&#8211;Schwinger Interaction in the Elastic Scattering of Neutrons
%J Australian Journal of Physics
%D 1996/06/01
%V 49
%N 3
%P 633-644
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/PH960633
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/PH960633 
%X The Mott&#8211;Schwinger potential arising from the interaction of the magnetic moment of a neutron incident upon the (electric) field of a nucleus has a profound effect upon the cross sections for scattering. The purely nuclear interaction (hadronic plus Mott&#8211;Schwinger) leads to a divergence in the spin&#8211;flip scattering amplitude at 0&#176; scattering and thus to a divergent total scattering cross section. We demonstrate that the screening of this interaction caused by the atomic electron cloud essentially compensates that divergence so that the scattering cross-section values, to be used for example in reactor moderation calculations, are effectively those given by calculations made without consideration of any Mott&#8211;Schwinger potential. However, the forward scattered neutrons remain strongly polarised as a result of the (complete) Mott&#8211;Schwinger interaction. 
