A Study of the T(d,γ)⁵He Reaction

Citation

Batay-Csorba, Peter Andrew (1975) A Study of the T(d,γ)⁵He Reaction. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/77EQ-NB39. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:02062018-094229451

Abstract

The cross section for the reaction, T(d,γ)⁵He_g.s., has been measured over the range of deuteron bombarding energies extending from 2 MeV to 12 MeV. A solid ZrT target was employed, and the cross sections were normalized by comparison with the well-known cross sections for the T(d,γ)⁴He_g.s. reaction. A well shielded, 8" diameter by 5" long NaI(Tl) crystal, 31" from the target, was used to detect the capture γ-radiation. Time-of-flight techniques were employed to suppress cosmic-ray background and neutron background arising mainly from the T(d,n)⁴He reaction. Serious pulse pile-up problems were encountered because of an intense flux of lower energy gamma rays arising mainly from contaminants in the target.

For a set of optical model potentials that describe the T + d differential elastic scattering, the direct radiative capture cross section for T(d,γ)⁵He was calculated. Although the cross section is under-predicted by about a factor of two, the calculated energy dependence of the cross section is similar to that observed.

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