Analytic expressions for particle spectra of sequential three-body break-ups

Abstract

Analytic expressions are developed, which are capable of describing the shape of the continuous particle spectra observed at a fixed angle in sequential nuclear reactions, for axially symmetric but otherwise arbitrary angular distributions of the first and second break-up, when the intermediate state has a definite energy. Analytic expressions are also developed for the spectra expected in the case of intermediate states, which have the shape of simple resonances. The generalization to intermediate broad states of arbitrary energy dependence is indicated.