Sub-coulomb energy 12C + 10, 11B and 14N + 10B fusion cross sections

Total fusion cross sections have been measured for the following reactions and energy intervals: ¹²C + ¹⁰B, E_c.m. = 2.10–5.38 MeV; ¹²C + ¹¹B, E_c.m. = 2.10–5.99 MeV; ¹⁴N + ¹⁰B, E_c.m. = 2.64–5.97 MeV. Absolute cross sections were extracted from the prompt γ-rays emitted by the various residual nuclei and measured by two large NaI detectors. No resonance structure was observed in the three reactions. The elastic scattering excitation function was also measured at θ_c.m. = 90.4° for ¹²C + ¹⁰B over the energy range E_c.m. = 3.18–6.82 MeV. Optical model potentials were found which could consistently describe both the fusion and elastic scattering data.     

Fusion cross-section measurements for the 13C+13C reaction

Absolute γ-ray yields from characteristic low-lying levels in nuclei produced in the ¹³C+ ¹³C reaction have been measured from E_c.m. = 4.0 to 15.8 MeV using an intrinsic germanium detector. Statistical-model calculations of the decay modes of the compound nucleus have been used to deduce absolute cross sections for the production of the observed residual nuclei and to determine the fusion cross section. Consistency checks on the adopted procedure lead to an estimated absolute uncertainty of ± 15 % on the deduced cross sections. Over the energy range covered, no striking evidence has been found for either broad single-particle resonances or for narrow non-statistical resonances in the cross sections for individual channels. Comparisons are made with optical-model calculations of the reaction cross section and with different expressions for the fusion cross section.     

Fusion cross section for 13C + 13C at low energies

The energy dependence of the fusion cross section has been measured over the range E_c.m. = 3.05–6.88 MeV by detecting the γ-rays from residual nuclei in a 4π geometry. Analyzing the 1.37 MeV photopeak, originating from ${}^{24}\text{Mg}\text{1.37}\text{MeV}\text{→}\text{g.s. transition}$, the cross sections for ²⁴Mg+2n channel were also deduced. The measured fusion cross sections have been compared with those for ¹²C + ¹²C and ¹²C + ¹³C systems and found to be significantly different. For ¹³C+¹³C the fusion cross sections agree with the standard optical-model prediction down to the lowest measured energies, while for ¹²C + ¹²C and ¹²C + ¹³C they are, at the lowest energies, too low. It is suggested that the unpaired valence nucleons facilitate fusion at energies well below the Coulomb barrier.     

Direct and compound nuclear contributions to the 13C(6Li,t) reaction at Elab = 25 MeV

The reaction ¹³C(⁶Li, t)¹⁶O has been studied in the incident energy range 24–26 MeV. Complete angular distributions have been measured at E_⁶Li, = 25 MeV in the angular range θ_lab = 8°–172°, with the reaction ⁶Li(¹³C, t)⁶O being used for the backward angle measurements. Cross sections for evaporation residues from the fusion of the ⁶Li + ¹³C system have been measured in the incident ⁶Li energy range 9.2–35.1 MeV. Compound nuclear contributions to the transfer cross sections have been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory with the assumption that the compound-nucleus formation cross section is equal to the measured fusion cross section. By comparison of the compound nuclear calculations with backward angle data it is found that the sharp cutoff approximation commonly used to represent the initial angular momentum distribution of the compound nucleus is not adequate for the ¹³C(⁶Li, t)¹⁶O reaction. Good fits to the backward angle data can be obtained by using a smooth cutoff approximation. The forward angle cross sections have been compared with exact finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation calculations to extract transferred angular momenta and spectroscopic strengths. The present results differ from those of an earlier study. These differences are due to the inclusion of forward angle data in the present study.     

Comparison of the fusion reactions12C+20Ne and16O+16O near the Coulomb barrier

The partial cross sections of heavy residual nuclei produced in the heavy ion fusion of¹²C+²⁰Ne have been measured atE _c.m.=6–15 MeV viaγ-ray spectroscopy with a Ge(Li) detector. Windowless and recirculating gas target systems have been used. The dominant residual nuclei are²⁴Mg,²⁷Al,²⁸Si,³⁰Si,³⁰P and³¹P, which arise from two- and three-body breakups in the exit channels. The observed excitation functions are smooth in their energy dependence and give no indications for the existence of pronounced resonance structures, in contrast to theoretical predictions. The Coulomb excitation of²⁰Ne served as an intrinsic calibration standard in the determination of absolute partial and total fusion cross sections. The same experimental set-up was also used in the reaction studies of¹⁶O+¹⁶O atE _c.m.=7–14 MeV, going through the same compound nucleus³²S at similar excitation energies. The observed energy dependence in the excitation functions is in good agreement with previous work. The total fusion cross section agrees fairly well with two sets of values reported previously, but deviates significantly from other reported absolute cross section values. The relative evaporation distributions of the residual nuclei are similar for both heavy ion reactions. However, the ratio of their total fusion cross sections deviates from model predictions and suggests that compound nucleus formation does depend on the microscopic structure of the colliding nuclei in the entrance channel. From the observed energy dependence of the above ratio, particularly at subcoulomb energies, geometrical effects in the entrance channel (due to deformed and spherical nuclei) appear to be weak. The astrophysical aspects of the data in the context of late stellar nucleosynthesis are discussed.     

Fusion and neutron-transfer cross sections for 13C + 10B and 13C + 11B reactions at subbarrier energies

The cross sections for the ¹⁰B(¹³C, ¹²C)¹¹B neutron-transfer reaction, leading to the ¹¹B 4.45 and 6.74 MeV and ¹²C 4.44 MeV excited states, and for ¹³C + ¹⁰B fusion have been measured by the characteristic and total γ-ray yield methods, respectively, over the energy (c.m.) interval 2.4–5.8 MeV. For ¹³C + ¹¹B, with no transfer reactions present, the fusion cross sections have been measured between E_c.m. = 2.3 and 6.4 MeV. The fusion cross sections for ¹³C + ¹⁰B and ¹³C + ¹¹B are found to be almost equal and slightly enhanced with respect to those for ¹²C + ¹⁰B and ¹²C + ¹¹B.     

Alpha-heavy-ion angular correlations from 28Si + 12C

Alpha particles have been measured in coincidence with heavy recoil nuclei from the ²⁸Si + ¹²C reaction. At E_lab = 87 MeV angular correlations for alphas between 15° and 55° and heavy ions at angles ?9°, ?12° and ?15° have been taken. An excitation function of coincidence events with θ_α = 30° and θ_HI = ?12° has been measured for 84 MeV < E_lab < 91.5 MeV. The results are well described by a statistical-model calculation for compound nucleus decay. No evidence is found for additional processes.     

9Be + 12C, 9Be + 16O,9Be + 19F reactions at energies below the barrier

The ¹⁶O + ⁹Be reactions have been studied from E_c.m. = 2.0 MeV to 5.1 MeV, an energy near the top of the Coulomb barrier. The cross section for the neutron transfer reaction ⁹Be(¹⁶O,¹⁷O¹ (0.87 MeV))⁸Be has been measured over this range by detecting the prompt 0.87 MeV γ-rays. The total fusion cross section has been determined from E_c.m. = 2.8 to 5.1 MeV by observing individual γ-ray transitions in the evaporation residues with a Ge(Li) detector, and then summing the separate yields. Direct processes are found to dominate the reaction yield below E_c.m. = 4 MeV. A comparison of the energy dependence of the fusion cross section for this reaction and the ¹²C + ¹³C reaction, which proceeds via the formation of the same compound nucleus, ²⁵Mg, reveals differences at sub-barrier energies. Optical model and incoming-wave boundary condition calculations are presented. Data have also been obtained for the near optimum Q-value neutron-transfer reactions ⁹Be(¹²C, ¹³C¹)⁸Be and ⁹Be(¹⁹F, ²⁰F)⁸Be, and these are discussed in terms of a simple model of sub-barrier direct reactions.     

Total reaction cross section for 12C + 16O below the Coulomb barrier

The energy dependence of the total reaction cross section, σ(E), for ¹²C + ¹⁶O has been measured over the range E_c.m. = 4–12 MeV, by detecting γ-rays from the various possible residual nuclei with two large NaI(Tl) detectors placed close to the target. This technique for measuring total reaction cross sections was explored in some detail and shown to yield reliable values for σ(E). Although the principal emphasis of this work was placed on obtaining reliable cross sections, a preliminary study has been made of the suitability of various methods for extrapolating the cross section to still lower energies. The statistical model provides a good fit with a reasonable value for the strength function, 〈γ²〉/〈D〉 = 6.8 × 10^?2, over the range E_c.m. = 6.5–12 MeV, but predicts cross sections which are much too large for E_c.m. < 6.5 MeV. Optical model fits at low energies are especially sensitive to the radius and diffuseness of the imaginary component of the potential and, since these are still poorly known at present, such extrapolations may be wrong by orders of magnitude. A simple barrier penetration model gives a moderately good fit to the data and seems to provide the safest extrapolation to lower energies at the present time. It is clear, however, that our knowledge of the heavy-ion reaction mechanism at low energies is incomplete, and that cross-section measurements at still lower energies are needed to establish the correct procedure for extrapolating heavy-ion reaction cross sections to low energies.     

Observation of the nuclear rainbow scattering for12C+12C atE Lab =300 MeV

The elastic and inelastic scattering of¹²C on¹²C has been measured in the angular range between 2.8° and 70.4° in the c.m. system atE _Lab =300 MeV. Optical model calculations have been performed with Woods-Saxon and folded potentials, the ground state and the first 2⁺-state were coupled in the calculations. The large cross sections of the elastic scattering at large angles is related to the nuclear rainbow scattering, which is centered at about 56°. This requires a potential depth of 100 MeV at a distance of 3 fm, the fit to the data is sensitive down to this region. The calculations with the folded potential show a better agreement with the data than those with the Woods-Saxon shape. The total reaction cross section of 1,420 mb, obtained from the optical model analysis, corresponds to the geometrical value; no transparency is observed.     

Non-statistical effects in the 12C(12C, α)20Ne reaction near Ec.m. = 15 MeV

The ¹²C(¹²C, α)²⁰Ne reaction is studied near E_c.m. = 15 MeV. Angular distributions for three energies and excitation functions at θ_{lab = 30°} over an energy range E_c.m. = 14.5?15.4 MeV for about 20 levels in ²⁰Ne (E_ex = 0–13 MeV) are examined. The statistical analysis yields the results that a correlated resonance is present at E_c.m. = 14.75 MeV. A nonstatistical contribution to the reaction is also apparent when energy-averaged cross sections are compared with the Hauser-Feshbach model predictions. Strong population of the 0⁺₃ band in ²⁰Ne is observed.     

Boron+boron sub-Coulomb energy total reaction cross sections

Total reaction cross sections have been measured for the following reactions and energy intervals: ¹¹B+¹¹B, E_c.m. = 1.56–3.65 MeV; ¹⁰B+¹¹B, E_c.m. = 1.61–3.94 MeV; ¹⁰B+¹⁰B, E_c.m. = 1.84–3.66 MeV. Absolute cross sections were extracted from the prompt γ-rays emitted by the various residual nuclei and measured by large NaI detectors. The absolute accuracy of the method is thoroughly discussed and tested via a measurement of the ¹²C+¹²C reaction. For all three boron cases measured neither intermediate nor giant type resonances were observed. The cross sections are well described by optical model calculations based on lowenergy ¹¹B+¹¹B elastic scattering parameter sets.     

16O(p,α0)13N cross-section measurements

Total cross sections for the ${}^{16}\text{O}\text{(}\text{p}\text{, α}{}_0\text{)}{}^{13}\text{N}$ reaction have been measured by observation of the positron decay of the residual ¹³N nuclei. These cross sections, covering the c.m. energy range 5.4 ≦ E ≦ 9.9 MeV, allow determination of reaction rates of astrophysical interest at temperatures in the neighborhood of 4 × 10⁹°K.     

Line shape and excitation strength of the first excited state in9Be

The line shape and the excitation strength of the very weak first excited J ^π =1/2⁺ state at E_x=1.684 MeV in Zeitschrift für Physik Zeitschrift für Physik⁹Be has been investigated with high-resolution inelastic electron scattering at E₀=45 and 49 MeV and scattering angles θ=105°, 117°, 129° and 165°, and with high-resolution inelastic proton scattering at E₀=13MeV and θ=15° and 18°. Due to lying just above the neutron threshold the level has a strongly asymmetric line shape which in both experiments can be described consistently with a Breit-Wigner expression modified on the low energy side by the threshold behaviour of the cross section. The resonance energy is E_R=1.684 ± 0.007 MeV and the width T=217± 10 keV in thec.m. system. A single particle potential model calculation reproduces the line shape and the resonance parameters fairly well. In addition, the inelastic electron scattering form factor has been measured. In the range of momentum transfersq =0.24-0.46 fm^?1 it is dominated by a 0p_3/2→ 1s_1/2 particle-hole transition. The transition is mainly longitudinal and of isoscalar nature with a strength of B (E1)↑ =0.027 + 0.002 e² fm², but a small M2 contribution ofB(M2)↑=8.8 ±1.5 μ _N ² fm² has also been detected.     

Energy dependence of the 16O208Pb effective interaction

The Coulomb-nuclear interference in the excitation probability of the 2.615 MeV (3⁻) state of ²⁰⁸Pb by ¹⁶O at θ_CM=172° for bombarding energies 57 MeV ⩽E_lab⩽79 MeV has been studied. The data are described by an effective interaction which has a behaviour similar to that expected from the dispersion relation connecting the real and imaginary parts of the generalized optical potential.     

Gamma-ray yields from 12C + 13C reactions near and below the coulomb barrier

The γ-ray yields from low-lying transitions in heavy residual nuclei produced in the ¹²C+¹³C reaction have been measured from E_c.m. = 3.1 to 11.9 MeV using a Ge(Li) detector. Total cross sections for compound nucleus formation were deduced from the experimental data with the aid of the Hauser-Feshbach model. Several independent checks on this procedure are described. These tests verify the assumptions made in the analyses of this reaction and suggest that the deduced cross sections have an absolute uncertainty of ±30 %. The present experimental results for the ¹²C+¹³C reaction are qualitatively very different from those for the ¹²C+¹²C reaction and do not provide any striking evidence for either broad singleparticle resonances in the total reaction cross section or for narrow non-statistical (quasimolecular) resonances in summed cross sections for proton and for α-particle emission to bound states of ²⁴Na and ²¹Ne, respectively. The predictions of several optical models employing attractive nuclear potentials are compared to the data. None is successful in reproducing the measured cross sections over the entire range of bombarding energy. The predictions at low energies depend sensitively on the shape of the potential a few fm inside the region of the nuclear surface. A narrow, rapidly varying energy dependence of the γ-ray yields is observed, with a peak-to-valley ratio of typically 1.1. However, a statistical analysis shows that these fluctuations, and those observed in recent charged particle measurements of α-particle yields, are reasonably consistent with those expected from the formation and decay of strongly overlapping levels in the compound nucleus. Finally, several observations are made on the validity of certain approximations often made in statistical analyses of heavy-ion reactions.     

Search for resonances in 12C(9Be, α)17O

Excitation functions at 7° (lab) have been measured from E_c.m. = 5.1 to 11.4 MeV in approximately 114 keV steps for 15 groups of final states in ¹⁷O populated by the ¹²C(⁹Be, α) reaction. Statistical tests have been used to locate possible non-statistical structure in the excitation functions. Possible anomalies were found near E_c.m. = 6.3, 7.5, 8.9 and 9.7 MeV. Angular distributions were measured at E_c.m. = 9.20, 9.71 and 10.23 MeV for the three lowest excited states in ¹⁷O. The data have been compared with Hauser-Feshbach calculations in addition to the following reaction mechanisms: compound plus a single resonance, compound plus interfering resonances and compound plus direct reactions.     

Experimental determination of the total reaction cross section of the stellar nuclear reaction 16O + 16O

The total reaction cross section for ¹⁶O + ¹⁶O has been measured at six energies between E_c.m. = 6.8 and 11.9 MeV. Cross sections for the production of protons, alphas, neutrons, deuterons, ³¹S, ³⁰P, ¹²C(g.s.) + ²⁰Ne(g.s.) and the relative γ-yield were obtained with a variety of experimental methods. No ³H or ³He were found. All cross sections are normalized to ¹⁶O + ¹⁶O elastic scattering at θ_c.m. = 90°, which was measured separately with high precision between E_c.m. = 7.3 and 14.4 MeV. The elastic scattering and relative γ-yield of ¹²C + ¹²C were measured between E_c.m. = 3.9 and 7.5 MeV. The elastic scattering and neutron yield of ¹²C + ¹⁶O were measured between E_c.m. = 5.4 and 10.1 MeV.