d + α Scattering from 12 to 17 MeV

A previous phase-shift analysis of the d + α system had indicated that the solution obtained might not describe the backward-angle tensor analyzing powers very well above about 10 MeV. We have measured differential cross sections and all four analyzing powers A_y, A_xx, A_yy and A_xz at deuteron bombarding energies of 12, 14, 15 and 17 MeV, with some emphasis on the backward-angle region. The discrepancy with the previous phase-shift analysis was confirmed, and we have studied the changes in the phase parameters necessary to improve the fit to our new measurements.