Coherent bremsstrahlung in α + p reactions at 50 MeV/nucleon

Abstract

Bremsstrahlung emitted in the α + p reaction at 50 MeV/nucleon was studied using a 200 MeV α -particle beam and a liquid hydrogen target. Double-differential photon cross sections were measured over a wide range of angles and energies. Coherent bremsstrahlung was found to be strong for all photon energies. The cross section is enhanced at the highest photon energies and is characteristic of direct capture to the unbound 5 Li ground and first excited state. With direct capture as a limiting case of coherent bremsstrahlung a consistent reaction picture can be obtained.