The 7Be(p, ?)8B Cross Section at Low Energies

Abstract

The nonresonant part of the 7Be(p, )I)8B cross section at low energies is recalculated by means of a direct-capture potential model, using parameter values determined by fitting 7Li(n, n)7Li and 7Li(n, )I)8Li data. Standard values of the potential parameters and spectroscopic factors give values of the 7Li(n,)I) cross section that are too large. Modified values that fit the thermal-neutron capture cross section predict 7Be(p,)I) cross sections that are much less than the experimental values. Also, shell model calculations predict resonant 7Be(p,)I) cross sections that are smaller than the experimental values. It is suggested that the accepted experimental values of the 7Be(p, )I) cross section may be too large, perhaps due partly to an overlarge accepted value for the 7Li(d, p)8Li cross section, which has been used for normalization purposes. A decrease in the 7Be(p,)I) cross section would reduce the calculated detection rate of solar neutrinos and lessen the discrepancy with the measured value.