The 23Na(α,γ)27Al reaction. A survey of the reaction and some properties of the 27Al nucleus

Abstract

The 23Na(α,γ) reaction has been studied in the region Eα = 2–3 MeV. The γ-ray spectra from a total of 16 resonances have been surveyed using a 40 cm3 Ge(Li) detector. Excitation energies, γ-ray decay modes, branching ratios, and γ-ray yields of these resonances are given. Below Eα = 2.7 MeV, all resonances have [Formula: see text] and the α-particle capture proceeds with [Formula: see text]. The resonances at Eα = 2.696 and 2.797 MeV have strong branches to the Jπ = 11/2+ state in 27Al at 4.509 MeV excitation energy. A measurement of γ-ray angular distributions at these resonances yields Jπ(2.969 res.) = 9/2+, 11/2 and Jπ(2.797 res.) = 9/2+ for the resonances, and Jπ(5.671) = 9/2+, 7/2 and Jπ(4.580) = 9/2+, 7/2 for bound states in 27Al. Investigation of this latter level at the Ep = 2.114 MeV resonance in the 26Mg(p,γ)27Al reaction restricts the spin to 7/2. New excited states in 27Al were found at Ex = 5.504, 5.671, and 7.815 MeV. A state at Ex = 5.499 MeV was confirmed.