The work scope involves the measurement of neutron scattering from natural sodium (<
sup>
23<
/sup>
Na) and two isotopes of iron, <
sup>
56<
/sup>
Fe and <
sup>
54<
/sup>
Fe. Angular distributions, i.e., differential cross sections, of the scattered neutrons will be measured for 5 to 10 incident neutron energies per year. The work of the first year concentrates on <
sup>
23<
/sup>
Na, while the enriched iron samples are procured. Differential neutron scattering cross sections provide information to guide nuclear reaction model calculations in the low-�energy (few MeV) fast-�neutron region. This region lies just above the isolated resonance region, which in general is well studied
however, model calculations are difficult in this region because overlapping resonance structure is evident and direct nuclear reactions are becoming important. The standard optical model treatment exhibits good predictive ability for the wide-�region average cross sections but cannot treat the overlapping resonance features. In addition, models that do predict the direct reaction component must be guided by measurements to describe correctly the strength of the direct component, e.g., ?<
sub>
2<
/sub>
must be known to describe the direct component of the scattering to the first excited state. Measurements of the elastic scattering differential cross sections guide the optical model calculations, while inelastic differential cross sections provide the crucial information for correctly describing the direct component. Activities occurring during the performance period are described.