Light particle emission and projectile fragmentation in 14N + 12C

Abstract

Quasi-complete in-plane correlations are measured between two heavy fragments ( 12C, 12C; 12C, 13C) which leave a missing mass such as n, p, d or p + n in 14N + 12C at 48 MeV. The use of two position-sensitive telescopes in coincidence allows an observation of data over 675 combinations of angles. The strongest coincidence yield concerns the 12C + 13C + p exit channel in which the target ( 12C) is left either in its ground state or in its first excited state ( σ ⋍ 40 and 15 mb respectively). No significant yield is found for the dissociations 12C + 12C + d, 12C + 13N + n or 12C + 10B + α at this energy. Using the reconstructed proton velocities, we obtain a source pattern in the rapidity plot which is roughly centered in the so-called mid-rapidity region. On the other hand, the Dalitz plot exhibits an enhancement of events which could be due to a projectile fragmentation ( 14 N → 13 C + p) via a real or virtual excitation energy of 8.7 MeV.