Investigation of breakup process in 9Be(α,n)12C reaction

Abstract

Neutron energies and angular distributions were measured in ⁹Be(α,n)¹²C reaction for α energies of 5.5 and 6.5 MeV. Three major neutron groups were observed in the spectrum, which correspond to the ground and first two excited states of ¹²C. Measured data could only be explained by the TALYS calculation if reaction at more than one location within the target is considered for a given beam energy. The preferred locations are driven by the resonance energy levels existing in ¹³C. Neutron yield due to the ⁹Be breakup process was determined which is found to be 12.6 ± 0.2% and 18.4 ± 0.5% of the total reaction cross-section for 5.5 and 6.5 MeV respectively.