Production cross sections of lithium and beryllium isotopes in 12C by high-energy protons and alpha particles

Abstract

Abstract The formation cross sections of 6Li, 7Li and 7Be, 9Be, 10Be by high-energy protons and α-particles in a 12C target have been determined by a high sensitivity mass-spectrometric technique. A method for extracting lithium and beryllium from the irradiated graphite without interference by natural contamination has been developed. Cross sections have been measured for 150 MeV and 600 MeV protons as well as 100–140 MeV α-particles. The 9Be and 10Be cross sections from 12C are significantly higher than the corresponding ones on 16O measured previously. The implications of the high values of α-induced cross sections on the study of cosmic-ray propagation are briefly discussed.