Applications of photographic method to problems in nuclear physics. I (a) The determination of the energy of homogeneous groups of α-particles and protons (b) The determination of the energy of fast neutrons

Abstract

A detailed account is given of an application of the photographic method to the determination of the energy of homogeneous groups of particles from nuclear reactions. The particles studied are (a) α-particles from thorium and uranium; (b) protons from the disintegration of boron and lithium by 500 ekV deuterons, and (c) neutrons from the deuteron bombardment of deuterium, beryllium, boron and fluorine. It is shown that the experimental width at half maximum of a homogeneous group of particles is nearly independent of the energy in the range from 1 to 13 eMV, and is equal to 0·3 eMV for protons and 0·5 eMV for α-particles. In modem conditions the photographic method provides a powerful and reliable instrument for nuclear research.