Neutron capture cross sections of 194Hg and the decays of 195Hg

The thermal cross section and resonance integral have been determined for radiative neutron capture by radioactive 194Hg by observing the γ rays emitted in the decay of 195Hg. Captures leading to the low-spin isomer of 195Hg give σ=877 b and I=10,270 b, while captures leading to the high-spin isomer give σ=49 b and I=608 b. Energies and intensities of the γ rays emitted in the decays of 195Hg produced by neutron capture have been obtained with increased precision relative to previous studies with sources produced by other reactions, leading to correspondingly improved values for β-decay branching intensities and energy levels in 195Au. New values for the half-lives of 195gHg and 195mHg are also reported.