np scattering measurements at 96 MeV -: art. no. 044001

The differential np scattering cross section has been measured at 96 MeV in the angular range theta (c.m.) =74-180 degrees at the neutron beam facility of the The Svedberg Laboratory in Uppsala. A subset of the data, covering 116-180 degrees, has previously been published. The new, extended angular distribution has been normalized to the experimental total np cross section. Between 150 degrees and 180 degrees, the angular distribution is steeper than for most previous measurements and nucleon-nucleon potential predictions. At 180 degrees, the difference amounts to about 10%, implying serious consequences because of the fundamental importance of this cross section. A value of the charged pi NN coupling constant consistent with our earlier result at 162 MeV has been extracted from the data.