QUASIFREE KNOCKOUT OF DEUTERONS IN 6LI(ALPHA,ALPHAD)4HE REACTION AT 23.6 MEV

α-d correlations in quasi-elastic scattering of 23.6-MeV α particles on the deuteron cluster of the Li6 target were measured in and off the principal reaction plane. Despite the low c.m. energy of 14.2 MeV, the impulse approximation provides a reasonable description of the quasifree process. Computations were based on the asymptotic α-d S-state wave function and on the cluster-model wave function of Li6. Insensitivity of the fits to the details of the Li6 cluster-model wave function indicates an extreme surface reaction mechanism. The full width at half-maximum of the spectator momentum distribution was found to be 48±6 MeV/c. By comparing the experimental cross section for the quasifree process at the maximum of the angular correlation (d2σdΩddΩ=68±9 mb/sr2 at θ=25°,θd=45°) with the corresponding cross section for the free process, the probability of finding Li6 as an α-d cluster was evaluated. © 1969 The American Physical Society.