Angular Distribution of α-Particles and Protons from Li⁶+D²

Abstract

The angular distribution of α-particles from Li⁶(d,α)He⁴ has been investigated for deuteron energies between 200 keV. and 1 MeV. The distribution may be represented by the expression                   N(θ)=N(90°)[1+A(E) cos²θ], where A(E) is a function of deuteron energy. The variation of A(E) with energy is due to the increasing penetration of the potential barrier by d deuterons. The angular distributions of the two groups of protons from Li⁶(d,p)Li^7*, Li⁷ have been investigated in the same energy range. The distributions are complex and require d deuterons for their complete specification in the form                N(θ) = a₀P₀ + a₁P₁ = a₂P₂ = a₃P₃ = a₄P₄where P_n is the Legendre polynomial of order n. The results appear to resolve some differences apparent in earlier work. There is no evidence that the short range proton distribution is more complex than that of the long range group.