Neutron scattering experiments on high-mass targets with CoGNAC at LANSCE

Neutron scattering cross sections are important inputs for, among other applications, neutron transport codes that guarantee nuclear reactor safety. The CoGNAC project at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center has successfully measured inelastic neutron scattering for several high-priority low-mass targets using scattered neutron-gamma coincidence and gamma-only analyses. We have collected data on high-mass targets with CoGNAC, where the high nuclear level density makes interpretation of observed gamma-coincident neutron spectra more challenging. Theory-based codes such as CoH and empirical techniques can both guide this effort. We will discuss ongoing efforts to develop methods to extract neutron scattering cross sections and neutron angular distributions from existing high-mass data collected with CoGNAC, which will enable future measurements on similar targets of interest including actinides.