Neutron capture cross sections of 130,132,134,136,138Ba

Cross sections for radiative capture of neutrons have been measured by the activation technique for stable isotopes of Ba with mass numbers 130, 132, 134, 136, and 138. From separate irradiations using thermal and epithermal neutrons, independent values for the thermal cross sections and effective resonance integrals have been determined. Improved values for the radioactive decay half-lives of Ba-131(8), Ba-131(m), Ba-133(m), Ba-135(m), and Ba-139 were also obtained. Results of a new measurement of the energies and intensities of the gamma rays in the decay of Ba-139 are reported, along with beta feedings and energies for the excited states in the daughter La-139.