Proximity scattering in the sequential decay Ca(d, n)Sc3.46(p)Ca

In a nuclear two-stage reaction proceeding through excited states of an unstable intermediate system, rescattering can occur between two of the three outgoing particles as a special type of final-state interaction (“proximity scattering”). The probability for proximity scattering increases with a decreasing lifetime of the intermediate state. Correlations between protons and neutrons from the reaction ⁴⁰Ca(d, np)⁴⁰Ca were measured at a bombarding energy of 5.80 MeV and a neutron emission angle of 70°. The results are compared with a quantal calculation of the cross section for this process. A width Γ = 50±20 keV for the excited state at 3.46 MeV in ⁴¹Sc has been deduced from this comparison. Apparent discrepancies between the Γ-values obtained by this method and by a classical prediction for the proximity scattering probability are discussed.