Evaluation of neutron induced reaction cross sections on gold

A new evaluation of neutron induced reactions on 197Au nucleus in the energy regions below 500 eV and from 4 keV to 100 keV is presented. Complete evaluated data files in ENDF-6 format have been produced by joining the evaluation with corresponding files from the ENDF/B-VII.1 library. The evaluation in the unresolved resonance region between 4 keV and 100 keV is based on a generalized single-level representation compatible with the energy-dependent option of the ENDF-6 format. The average partial cross sections have been expressed in terms of transmission coefficients by applying the Hauser-Feshbach statistical reaction theory including width fluctuations. The transmission coefficients have been obtained from a combined analysis of the capture cross section resulting from the cross section standards evaluation project and theoretical nonfluctuating cross sections derived from a dispersive coupled channel optical model. The evaluated cross sections have been validated by a comparison with transmission and capture data obtained at the time-of-flight facility GELINA. The evaluated files have been processed with the latest updates of NJOY.99 to test their format and application consistency as well as to produce a continuous-energy data library in ACE format for use in Monte Carlo codes. The ACE files have been utilized to study the effect of the evaluated resonance parameters on results of lead slowing-down experiments. The evaluated files will be implemented in the next release of the JEFF-3 library which is maintained by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD.