Absorption and Scattering of Neutrons during Sub-Barrier Reflection from a Surface

When studying the interaction of neutrons with a force field, the important parameters are the neutron flux and the time the neutron stays in the measuring setup. To increase them, a neutron accumulator generated by a pulsed or continuously acting source can be used. Both parameters in a storage ring with material walls are determined by the probabilities of neutron capture by atomic nuclei and diffuse neutron scattering on the surface roughness of the walls. The task of definition of probabilities of neutron capture and scattering processes in the mirror reflection channel is considered. An imaginary potential of neutron interaction with the medium is introduced, which is responsible for the diffuse scattering of neutrons. Requirements for the wall roughness of the neutron storage ring are formulated.