Studies in Nuclear Structure and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Using Proton Beams

Abstract

We present the results of our measurements using proton beams to address two different problems, namely, inelastic scattering of proton by 12 C and radiative capture of proton by deuteron. The 12 C(p, p γ) 12 C reaction was carried out with proton-beam energies ranging from 8 to 22 MeV. The differential and total cross section of γ rays from the 4.438, 9.64, 12.7 and 15.1 MeV states were measured at all the beam energies and compared with detailed Optical Model calculations. We report, for the first time, the cross section and the branching ratio of the 9.64 MeV state. In a different experiment, cross sections and astrophysical S(E) factors for p + d capture reaction were measured for the first time at CM energies of 66, 116 and 166 keV. The measured values at these three new energies are found to be in good agreement with global set of data and in nice agreement with recent theoretical calculations.

Measurement of proton induced absolute production cross-section of 6.13, 6.92 and 7.12 MeV γ-rays from 16O(p,p ′γ )16O reaction

“…Motivated by these objectives, our group has started a program to study the low-lying states of light nuclei such as 12 C and 16 O for insights into the nuclear structure and to contribute towards γ-ray astronomy. In this regard, our group has already performed γ-ray measurements on 12 C(p,p g ¢ ) 12 C reaction [5,6]. The study of 16 O(p,p g ¢ ) 16 O is the next step in this direction.…”