Elastic Scattering of 13.5- and 15-Mev Deuterons by Nuclei

Abstract

15-Mev deuterons from the MIT Cyclotron were elastically scattered by a number of elements, including Al, Ti, Fe, Cu, Ni, Rh, Pd, Sn (natural and monoisotropic), Ta, Au, and Pb. The angular distributions were measured in the MIT cyclotron 24-in. scattering chamber, by means of a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The crystal was thick enough to stop 15-Mev deuterons but too thin to stop protons of the same energy, thus, permitting measurement of the ($d, d$) cross sections for light elements, where ($d, p$) reactions play an important role. The obtained distributions differ sharply from the Rutherford formula ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{C}}\propto {csc}^4\left(\frac{\theta }{2}\right)$; most of them, especially those for medium and lighter elements, show pronounced diffraction-like maxima and minima.