Further measurement of the 7Be(p,γ)8B cross section at low energies with the coulomb dissociation of 8B

We have measured the dissociation of ⁸B in the Coulomb field of ²⁰⁸Pb at E_in=51.9 MeV/nucleon and extracted the cross section of the ⁷Be(p,γ)⁸B reaction at 0.4 ≤ E_rel≤ 3 MeV, which is of importance for the ⁸B solar-neutrino production rate. The extracted astrophysical S₁₇ factors are consistent with our earlier Coulomb dissociation measurement, and agree with the values deduced from the direct capture measurements by Filippone et al., Vaughn et al. and Hammache et al. The S factor at zero energy was extracted to be 18.9±1.8 eV-b with the help of theoretical energy-dependence. Received: 15 August 1998     

Study of the <Superscript>12</Superscript>C (<Superscript>8</Superscript>B, <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be)<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis> knockout reaction at intermediate energies

The breakup reactions of ⁸B on a ¹²C target at 142, 285, 790, and 936MeV/nucleon have been studied. One-proton-removal cross sections, leading to the production of ⁷Be fragments in the ground and first excited states (at 0.429MeV), and the longitudinal momentum distributions of the ⁷Be fragments are obtained in the Eikonal approximation of the Glauber Model. The results of the calculations including the contribution of the ⁷Be to the ground and first excited states of ⁸B are compared with the available experimental data. One-proton-removal cross section for the ¹²C(⁸B, ⁷Be)X knockout reaction at 142, 285, 790, and 936 MeV/nucleon energy has been calculated. ⁸B and ⁷Be cross sections and momentum distribution are in a good agreement with available data.     

Single-particle properties in an exactly solvableA-body system

For an improved determination of the⁷Be(p, γ)⁸B absolute cross section, the reaction is studied in inverse kinematics. The study involves a⁷Be radioactive ion beam of 8.0 MeV, a windowless H₂ gas target, and an efficient recoil separator for the detection of the⁸B residual nuclides. The techniques used to produce such a beam as well as the first direct observation of⁸B are reported.     

E2 component in subcoulomb breakup of 8B

We calculate the angular distribution and total cross section of the ⁷Be fragment emitted in the break up reaction of ⁸B on ⁵⁸Ni and ²⁰⁸Pb targets at the subcoulomb beam energy of 25.8 MeV, within the non-relativistic theory of Coulomb excitation with proper three-body kinematics. The relative contributions of the E1, E2 and M1 multipolarities to the cross sections are determined. The E2 component makes up about 65% and 40% of the ⁷Be total cross section for the ⁵⁸Ni and ²⁰⁸Pb targets respectively. We find that the extraction of the astrophysical S-factor, S₁₇(0), for the ⁷Be(p,γ)⁸B reaction at solar energies from the measurements of the cross sections of the ⁷Be fragment in the Coulomb dissociation of ⁸B at sub-Coulomb energies is still not free from the uncertainties of the E2 component.     

Peripheral fragmentation of 8B nuclei in nuclear emulsion at an energy of 1.2 GeV per nucleon

The results obtained by studying the charge topology of fragments produced in the peripheral dissociation of relativistic ⁸B nuclei in emulsion are presented. Fifty-five events of the peripheral dissociation of a ⁸B nucleus in events where there was no production of target-nucleus fragments and mesons (“white stars”) were selected. A leading contribution of the ⁸B → ⁷Be + p mode, which has the lowest energy threshold, was revealed on the basis of these events. Information about the branching ratios for dissociation modes characterized by a higher multiplicity was obtained. The dissociation of the ⁷Be core in ⁸B bears resemblance to the dissociation of a free ⁷Be nucleus. The transverse-momentum distributions of fragments originating from the ⁸B → ⁷Be + p dissociation mode were obtained. For these distributions, a small mean value of 〈P*_T〉 = 52 ± 5 MeV/c in the c.m. frame suggests a low binding energy of the outer proton in the ⁸B nucleus. An indication of a strong azimuthal correlation of the fragments ⁷Be and p was found.     

The polarized proton capture reaction 7Li(d, γ)8Be in the energy range from 380 to 960 keV

The polarized proton capture in ⁷Li was used to study the reaction mechanism and to obtain spectroscopic information on the ⁸Be nucleus. Gamma-ray angular distributions of the analyzing power were measured as a function of proton energy from E_p = 380–960 keV with three Ge(Li) detectors simultaneously. The excitation functions of the cross section and the analyzing power are strongly energy dependent. The data were analyzed unambiguously and represented by three R-matrix elements, two M1 and one E1. The energy dependence of the two M1 matrix elements agrees with the well-known two 1⁺ resonances at E_x = 17.642 and 18.157 MeV. The energy dependence of the E1 matrix element shows a smooth background presumably caused by a direct-capture mechanism, and furthermore, a resonant contribution, which is a significant suggestion of a new 1^? state in the ⁸Be system at E_x = 17.70 MeV with a width of Γ_p = 180 keV.     

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.     

The 12C(18O, α)26Mg and 12C(18O, 8Be)22Ne reaction

Excitation functions for α-emission leading to the ground and first excited states of ²⁶Mg and ⁸Be emission leading to the ground and first and second excited states of ²²Ne have been measured at several forward angles for E_c.m. = 15 to 22.4 MeV. There is little evidence for correlated structure. The angular distribution at 16.5 MeV for the α + ²⁶Mg(g.s.) channel is rather structureless while that for the ⁸Be+²²Ne(g.s.) channel appears to be dominated by a J = 13 contribution. Statistical model calculations indicate that much of the yield for both the α and ⁸Be exit channel is compound nuclear in origin, with some indication of a larger direct contribution for the ⁸Be channel at the lower end of the bombarding energy range.     

Production of an 8.0 MeV 7Be ion beam at the Naples TTT-3 accelerator

For an improved determination of the ⁷Be(p, γ)⁸B absolute cross section, the reaction is studied in inverse kinematics. The study involves a ⁷Be radioactive ion beam of 8.0 MeV, a windowless H2 gas target, and an efficient recoil separator for the detection of the ⁸B residual nuclides. The techniques used to produce such a beam as well as the first direct observation of ⁸B are reported.     

Total reaction and transfer cross sections for 11B + 9Be and 13C + 9Be reactions at low energies

The total reaction cross sections for ¹¹B + ⁹Be and ¹³C + ⁹Be have been measured by the total γ-ray yield method over the energy intervals E_c.m. = 1.4–4.4 MeV and E_c.m. = 2.0–5.2 MeV, respectively. The cross sections for the neutron transfer reactions ¹¹B(⁹Be, ⁸Be)¹²B, leading to the ¹²B 0.953 and 1.674 MeV states, and ¹³C(⁹Be, ⁸Be)¹⁴C, leading to the ¹⁴C 6.094, 6.728 and 6.902 MeV states, have been obtained from the yields of the characteristic γ-rays. The α-transfer reaction ¹¹B(⁹Be, ⁵He)¹⁵N, leading to many unresolved ¹⁵N states, has been observed with large cross section. There is, however, no evidence for the ¹³C(⁹Be, ⁵He)¹⁷O transfer process in the ¹⁷O + nα channels. This different behaviour of the ¹¹B + ⁹Be and ¹³C + ⁹Be systems seems to indicate that the α-transfer reaction at sub-barrier energies is not a direct transfer process, and that it probably occurs via molecular state formation.     

The energy dependence of fusion in the 9Be+28Si system

The angular distributions of the energy spectra of the light charged particles (p, d and α) from the ⁹Be + ²⁸Si reaction have been measured in the energy range 12 ≦ E_lab ≦ 30 MeV. The particle evaporation spectra and the angular distributions were analyzed with a spin dependent statistical model. Angular distributions of ⁹Be ions elastically scattered on ²⁸Si have been measured at the energies 12 MeV, 17 MeV, 23 MeV and 30 MeV and were analysed, together with previously measured cross sections, with the optical model. The fusion cut-off angular momentum l_fus(E), the fusion cross section σ_fus(E) and the ratio σ_fus/σ_R^OM(E) were deduced. The excitation function for fusion was analyzed with the Glas and Mosel model. The parameters obtained from the fusion excitation function were compared with the corresponding ones from the ⁹Be + ²⁸Si optical-model interaction potential.     

The mechanism of the 7Li(d, 2α)n reaction from Ed = 3 to 15 MeV

The ⁷Li(d, 2α)n reaction proceeds almost entirely through excitation and sequential decay of the 16.63 and 16.92 MeV levels in ⁸Be, for incident energies 1 to 13 MeV above their threshold. The energy dependence for forming these levels with the neutron emitted at 0° is approximately that predicted assuming the neutron is a spectator from the incident deuteron. None of the individual spectra, the angular dependence of the cross section at fixed E_d, or the bombarding-energy-dependence of the cross section for forming the levels is consistent with the involvement of a spectator neutron from the ⁷Li target.     

Mechanism of the 6Li(6Li, 2α)α reaction from 36 to 46 MeV

The principal mechanism of the ⁶Li(⁶Li, 2α)α reaction for E₀ = 36 to 46 MeV is the formation and sequential decay of ⁸Be levels near E_x = 11, 17, and 20 MeV. In contrast to previous results obtained at lower bombarding energies, the cross section for the direct reaction involving a spectator α-particle is, under the most favorable conditions, only one third of that for excitation of these ⁸Be levels.     

Highly excited 8Be core in the configuration of the 12C and 11B ground states

Angular distributions of the ¹²C(d, ⁶Li)⁸Be reaction at E_lab = 78.0 MeV and the ¹¹B(³He, ⁶Li)⁸Be reaction at E_lab = 71.8 MeV were measured. Transitions leading to ⁸Be in the ground state and the 3.04, 16.63, 16.92, 17.64 and 18.15 MeV excited states were observed. A DWBA analysis was performed regarding the (d, ⁶Li) and (³He, ⁶Li) reactions as direct α particle or triton transfers, respectively.     

Cross section measurements for the 9Be+9Be System at subbarrier energies

The total reaction cross section and the characteristic y-ray cross sections have been measured for the ⁹Be+ ⁹Be reaction in the energy range E_cm = 1.4–3.4 MeV, detecting the prompt γ-rays emitted by the various residual nuclei with two Nal detectors in nearly 4π geometry and with a germanium detector, respectively. The differential elastic cross sections for the same system have also been measured at e_c.m.= 2.2, 2.7 and 3.2 MeV. The cross sections calculated with the “standard” and the proximity optical model potentials, which describe well the total reaction cross sections of the light nuclei, agree with the ⁹Be + ⁹Be elastic-scattering data, but underpredict the total reaction cross section by a factor of 2 to 3. The characteristic γ-ray measurements show that all two-particle emission channels, nα ¹³C, nn¹⁶O, np¹⁶N and αα¹⁰Be are enhanced by about that factor, while the single-particle emission channel, p¹⁷N, is not enhanced.     

Mechanism of reactions induced by 7 MeV deuterons on9Be [(d,p), (d,d), (d,t), (d,4He)]

Angular distributions of protons, deuterons, tritons and alpha-particles emitted from the reactions in thed+⁹Be-system atE _d =7 MeV as well as excitation functions at selected angles in the energy rangeE _d =6.5–7.5 MeV (LAB) were measured. The potential part of the elastic scattering is described by the phenomenological optical model. The compound nucleus contribution to all exit channels is determined using the Hauser-Feshbach model. The collective excitation of the 2.43 MeV excited state of⁹Be and transfer processes are analysed within the DWBA formalism. The analyses suggest a significant contribution of five-nucleon transfer to the (d,⁴He) channel.     

Mechanism of the 12C(11B,15N)8Be reaction and 8Be + 15N optical-model potential

Angular distributions of the ¹²C( ¹¹B, ¹⁵N) ⁸Be reaction were measured at the energy E_lab(¹¹B) = 49 MeV for the transitions to the ground and 2.94 MeV (2⁺) excited state of ⁸Be and to the ground and 5.270 MeV (5/2⁺) + 5.299 MeV (1/2⁺), 6.324 MeV (3/2^-), 7.155 MeV (5/2⁺) + 7.301 MeV (3/2⁺), 7.567 MeV (7/2⁺) excited states of ¹⁵N. The data were analyzed by the coupled-reaction-channel method. The elastic, inelastic scattering and one- and two-step transfers were included in the coupling scheme. The data of the ¹²C( ¹¹B, ⁸Be) ¹⁵N reaction at E_cm = 9.4-17.8 MeV known from the literature, were also included in the analysis. The mechanism of the ¹²C( ¹¹B, ¹⁵N) ⁸Be reaction and the optical-model potential parameters for the ¹⁵N + ⁸Be channel were deduced. The energy dependence of the optical-model parameters for the ¹⁵N + ⁸Be channel was obtained.     

Photoproduction of π+ from9Be

The reaction⁹Be(γ, π ⁺)⁹Li has been studied with bremsstrahlung in the energy range 100–800 MeV employing the radioactivity method. The cross section curve deduced is compared with an impulse approximation calculation including a volume and a surface production model. In the energy region 200–300 MeV the experimental cross section, approximately 7 (μb, is best reproduced by the surface production model with a cut-off parameterr ₀ equal to 2.8 fm, i.e. somewhat larger than the r.m.s. radius of⁹Be.     

Proton scattering from 9Be between 6 and 30 MeV and the structure of 9Be

Differential cross-section excitation functions at lab scattering angles 86.9°, 120.0°, 140.0° and 160.0° were measured for ⁹Be(p, p_o)⁹Be, ⁹Be(p, p₂)⁹Be and ⁹Be(p, d₀)⁸Be at proton lab energies from 6 to 15 MeV in 100 keV steps. A broad anomaly was observed in the ⁹Be(p, p₀)⁹Be excitation functions. Differential cross-section angular distributions were measured for ⁹Be(p, p₀)⁹Be and ⁹Be(p, p₂)⁹Be at lab energies of 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 21.35 and 30.3 MeV and for ⁹Be(p, d₀)⁸Be at 13.0, 14.0, 15.0 and 21.35 MeV. Angular distributions of polarization analysing powers for ⁹Be($\text{p}$,p₀)⁹Be, ⁹Be(p, p₂)⁹Be and ⁹Be($\text{p}$, d₀)⁸Be were measured at 8.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0 and 15.0 MeV. A spherical optical-model (SOM) analysis of the elastic scattering angular distribution data from 13.0 to 30.3 MeV showed that an energy dependence of only V_R and W_s (volume real and surface imaginary depths) is sufficient to reproduce the measurements. Coupled-channels (CC) analyses were made with a quadrupole-deformed optical-model potential and strong coupling of $\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ levels of a $\text{K =}\text{3}\text{2}$ ground-state rotational band of ⁹Be. The ⁹Be(p, p₀)⁹Be and ⁹Be(p, p₂)⁹Be data from 13.0 to 30.3 MeV were analyzed simultaneously at each energy, varying only V_R and W_s with energy, for a potential deformation of β = 1.1. Both SOM and CC analyses indicated the same energy dependence in V_R, while W_s averaged 3.5 MeV lower in CC than in SOM, with both energy dependences consistent with previous analyses of nucleon scattering from 1p shell nuclei.     

The effect of resonances in 8Be on α-α bremsstrahlung

The effect of the quadrupole transition between the ⁸Be 4⁺(11.4 MeV) and 2⁺(2.9 MeV) states is included in low energy α-α bremsstrahlung (E_1ab < 30 MeV). In the equal-angle Harvard geometry this dominates for θ < 30°, and so enables an estimate to be made of B(E2, 4⁺ → 2⁺, ⁸Be). The problem of non-coplanarity is also discussed.