Analysis of Ni-58(n, alpha) reaction cross sections with the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory and the Bayesian parameter estimation method

Experimental data of Ni-58(n, alpha) reaction cross sections are analyzed w ith the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model with the width fluctuation correc tion by Moldauer. a neutron optical potential which was derived from neutro n elastic scattering data is used for an entrance channel in order to fix t he total reaction cross sections at reliable values. Global optical potenti als are used for the proton and alpha-particle emission channels, and level density parameters of the residual nuclei are determined from the cumulati ve plot of discrete levels. These parameters are adjusted to the experiment al data of Ni-58(n, alpha) and (n, p) reaction cross sections, including th e angular distribution of the emitted alpha-particles. The parameters thus obtained yield a good lit to the experimental cross sections of those react ions up to 8 MeV.