Radiative capture of protons by the deformed nuclide232Th

The excitation function for the radiative capture²³²Th(p, γ)²³³Pa has been determined in the proton energy range 7 to 20 MeV by an activation method. The results are compared with a compound nucleus model prediction and earlier experimental data for another deformed nuclide¹⁷⁶Yb. As in previous cases an enhancement over the CN-model prediction is observed and the excitation of the giant dipole resonance via the direct-semidirect reaction process is a likely explanation. Supplementary measurements of the²³²Th (p, f) excitation function in the proton energy range 11–20 MeV have been performed.