Photo-Neutron Thresholds of Beryllium and Deuterium

Abstract

The photo-neutron thresholds of beryllium and deuterium have been measured by comparison with the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p,n)$ threshold. For this purpose an electrostatic generator was used in which an electron beam and a positive ion beam were established simultaneously. Accurate control and measurement of the generator voltage was obtained by using an electrostatic analyzer on the ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ component of the ion beam. Because the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p,n)$ threshold lies between the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ and $\mathrm{D}(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ thresholds, errors in extrapolation should be small. The electron beam was accelerated from ground to the accurately known potential of the high voltage electrode where x-rays were produced for the photo-disintegration process. From the photo-neutron thresholds the neutron binding energies of beryllium and deuterium were found to be 1.666\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 and 2.226\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003 Mev, respectively.