The physics, experimental setup, and analysis of results involved in Walther Bothe and Peter Jensen's mistaken 1941 measurement of the capture cross section for thermal neutrons by carbon are examined. Their experiment, while well‐conceived and executed, was corrupted by the presence of unappreciated impurities. This erroneous measurement was crucial as it prompted a decision by German military administrators to abandon graphite as a possible moderator for a nuclear pile in favor of heavy water, a decision which set their program back irreparably.

中文翻译：

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沃尔特·博特的石墨：德国核计划中的物理，杂质和指责

考察了Walther Bothe和Peter Jensen在1941年错误地用碳测量热中子俘获截面的方法的物理原理，实验设置和结果分析。他们的实验虽然精心构思和执行，但由于存在未意识到的杂质而遭到破坏。这种错误的测量至关重要，因为它促使德国军方管理者决定放弃石墨，而将石墨作为可能的核堆缓和剂，转而使用重水，这一决定使他们的计划无可挽回地倒退了。