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.