Reaction cross sections for protons in the energy range 220–570 MeV

Abstract

Proton reaction cross sections have been measured for targets of natural isotopic abundance of the following elements and compounds: H, Be, C, Al, Fe, Cu, Ge, Sn, Pb, H 2O, B 4C and NaI. Data for proton energies between 220 and 570 MeV have been obtained with two types of transmission-counter assembly. The total errors are of the order of ± 3 %, which is a factor of three better than existing measurements in this energy region. A slight increase of the reaction cross sections with energy is observed for most of the elements studied. The results interpreted in terms of the semi-classical theory of reaction cross section as function of energy clearly demonstrate the onset of pion-production above 250 MeV.