The ¹⁸F(\(n\),\(\alpha \)) Reaction: First Study of \(n\)-Induced Reaction on a Radioactive Nucleus Using the Trojan Horse Method

Abstract

For the first time the Trojan Horse Method was applied to infer information about a neutron induced reaction on a radioactive nucleus at low energies relevant for astrophysics. In particular, the 18 F(n,α) 15 N reaction has been studied by using the 18 F+d reaction. A 18 F beam was produced at the CRIB facility at RIKEN, Japan, and was focused onto a CD 2 target. The beam had energy of 48 MeV, an average intensity of 10 5 pps and an average purity of 80%. A new designed experimental set-up covering a large solid angle was used to detect the ejected particles. The reaction cross section has been for the first time investigated in the energy range from 0 up to 2.5 MeV and several resonant states of 19 F have been populated.