Measurement of Cross-Section of the p + 7Li, d + Li, p + 11B, and d + B Reactions at the Ion Energies up to 2.2 MeV

Abstract

The interaction of a proton beam with lithium is considered the best reaction for boron neutron capture therapy. The interaction of a deuteron beam with lithium is characterized by a high yield of neutrons, high energy of neutrons, and a large variety of reactions. The interaction of a proton with boron-11 is considered a promising reaction for aneutronic fusion. The reliable data for the reactions cross-sections are important for many applications, including radiation astrophysics, aneutronic fusion, hadron therapy, boron neutron capture therapy, testing of advanced materials and equipment. The experimental data on the cross-sections differ greatly from one author to another; for a number of reactions there are no data on the cross-section in the databases. Measurements of the reactions cross-sections were carried out at the accelerator-based neutron source VITA at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk, Russia), using a HPGe γ-spectrometers, an α-spectrometers, and a diamond neutron spectrometers. The ⁷Li(p, p'γ)⁷Li, ⁷Li(p, α)⁴He, ⁶Li(d, α)⁴He, ⁶Li(d, p)⁷Li, ⁶Li(d, p)⁷Li*, ⁷Li(d, α)⁵He, ⁷Li(d, nα)⁴He, ⁷Li(d, n)⁸Be, ¹¹B(p, α₀)⁸Be, ¹¹B(p, α₁)⁸Be*, ¹⁰B(d, α)⁸Be, ¹⁰B(d, p)¹¹B, ¹¹B(d, α)⁹Be, and ¹¹B(d, p)¹²B reactions cross-sections at the ion energies up to 2.2 MeV have been measured. Measurements of the differential cross sections of the reactions were carried out for two angles which made it possible to determine the angular distribution of emission of the reaction products and calculate the total reactions cross sections. The results obtained are distinguished by their reliability.