SINGLET DEUTERONS (D) FROM (P D) REACTIONS

Singlet deuterons d (i.e., a neutron-proton system in the S=0, T=1 virtual state) are treated as particles emitted from nuclear reactions. A method for detecting them by n-p coincidence time-of-flight techniques is described. (p,d) reactions induced by 12-MeV protons on Li7 and Be9, and by 17-MeV protons on Be9, C13, Mg25, and Sn117 are investigated. In the lighter elements, angular distributions of d are measured and compared with those of deuterons from analogous (p,d) reactions, and the ratios R=σ(p,d)σ(p,d) are determined. Semiquantitative comparisons with theory indicate reasonable agreement. In Mg25 and Sn117, no (p,d) reactions could be detected, although they are expected to be observable at least in Sn117. © 1969 The American Physical Society.