Calculation of Effective Beam Energy Depending on the Target Thickness in Applications of Nuclear Astrophysics

Abstract

In nuclear astrophysical applications of non‐resonant nuclear reactions with thin targets, although changes in many parameters depending on the target thickness are neglected, the decrease in the beam energy through the target could be important. Since the cross section changes with energy, it is crucial to determine the relevant beam energies. At sub‐Coulomb energies, the cross section drops steeply with decreasing beam energy. Therefore, an average value approach in the beam energy is required: “the effective beam energy” corresponds to beam energy in the target at which one‐half of the yield for the full target thickness is obtained.