Angular distributions from ( d, p ) and ( d, n ) nuclear reactions

Abstract

Experimental angular distributions from (d, p) and (d, n) nuclear reactions involve con­tributions from incident angular momenta much higher than is compatible with compound nucleus formation, and indicate that these reactions must proceed to a large extent by means of a stripping process. The angular distributions to be expected from a stripping process are calculated, and these are found to be very sensitive to the angular momenta which can be accepted by the initial nucleus, i.e. to the spins and parities of the energy levels involved. In any one case there is found excellent agreement between the experimental curve and just one of the possible theoretical curves, and if the spin and parity of the ground state of the initial nucleus is known, this allows of a determination of the spin and parity of the appropriate level of the final nucleus. In this way it is found, for example, that the ground state of 17 O has spin ⅝ or ⅜ and even parity, and that the first excited state of 17 O (0.88 MeV above ground) has spin ½ and even parity. Determinations are also made of the spins and parities of the ground states and several excited states of 13 C, 15 N and 28 Al. Families of theoretical curves for a variety of incident and outgoing energies are presented in order to facilitate further spin and parity determinations from future experimental results.