Angular Distributions of theD(d, n)He3Reaction for 5- to 12-Mev Deuterons

Abstract

The absolute differential cross section for production of monoenergetic neutrons by the $\mathrm{D}(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^3$ reaction has been measured with 5.0-, 7.6-, 9.6-, and 12.2-Mev deuterons. A proton recoil counter telescope was used to detect the neutrons and to separate neutrons from the $\mathrm{D}(d, np)\mathrm{D}$ breakup reaction. The angular distributions at all energies are very peaked in the forward direction, with a first minimum around 30 to 40 degrees and a subsequent smaller maximum. The angular distributions, transformed to the center-of-mass system, have been fitted with the exchange stripping theory of Owen and Madansky, in which stripping from both incident and target deuterons is formally included. Excellent fits were obtained, but it was necessary to monotonically decrease the interaction radius, $R_0$, with incident deuteron energy. The variation was considerable, from $R_0=8.4\mathrm{}\pm 0.2$ fermi at 5.0 Mev to $R_0=5.5\mathrm{}\pm 0.2$ fermi at 12.2 Mev. An isotropic contribution of about 3 mb/sr was added to each distribution to obtain the best fit.