Very-high-energy light charged-particle production near 0 degrees in heavy-ion collisions, 9

Abstract

Very energetic light ions (primarily protons and alphas) with energies often approaching the full beam energy have been observed at or near {theta}=0{degree} in heavy-ion collisions, {ital Z}=8 to 28, {ital E}/{ital A}{dot =}9 to 40 MeV/nucleon from Ta and, in selected cases, Cu targets. Analysis of spectral shapes and angular distributions using a standard moving source model requires that the source velocity approaches the beam velocity as {theta}{r arrow}0{degree} and that the spectral slope parameters and apparent source temperatures be increased. Large values for the latter ({ital T}{sub {ital S}}{r arrow}16 MeV), which are typically twice as large as those deduced from complex fragment emission, are often required to fit the alpha particle spectra {theta}=0{degree}. Massive cluster transfer and other quasitransfer mechanisms may provide an alternative model for the generation of the {ital E}{r arrow}{ital E}{sub beam} alpha particles and other light fragments.