TheD(p, d*)pCross Section from theD(p, 2p)nReaction

Abstract

Three-body breakup spectra from a kinematically complete measurement of the $\mathrm{D}(p, 2p)n$ reaction have been analyzed to yield the cross section for the production of ${d}^{*}$, a quasiparticle consisting of a neutron and proton in a $^{1}S_{0}$ configuration. An excitation function of the $\mathrm{D}(p, {d}^{*})p$ reaction is obtained for the proton bombarding energy range 9-13 MeV. In agreement with measurements and predictions of the ($p, {d}^{*}$) cross section on several nuclei, the $\mathrm{D}(p, {d}^{*})p$ cross section is about an order of magnitude less than the elastic $\mathrm{D}(p, d)p$ cross section. The $\mathrm{D}(p, {d}^{*})p$ excitation function shows a peak at the bombarding energy ${E}_{p}=10.25$ MeV which coincides with a $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ excitation energy of 12.4 MeV. This peak might be interpreted as either a state in $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ or a threshold effect.