Neutron-Proton Scattering and the Disintegration of Deuterium by Deuterons

Abstract

The angular distribution of the scattering of neutrons by protons has been observed by the method of recoil protons in a cloud chamber. The source of neutrons was the reaction ${}_1{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{H}_{}^2{}_{}{}^{}+{}_1{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{H}_{}^2{}_{}{}^{}\to {}_2{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}_{}^3{}_{}{}^{}+{}_0{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}n_{}^1{}_{}{}^{}+Q_1$ which gave 2.6 Mev neutrons at right angles to the bombarding deuterons. The value of $Q_1$ was found to be 3.36±0.20 Mev. The recoil proton distribution showed a maximum at 45° as measured in laboratory coordinates. The distribution agreed with the theoretical one which predicts a spherical symmetry with respect to the center of mass of the moving system.