High resolution studies of projectile breakup at intermediate energies /

This dissertation is a study of heavy ion breakup reactions

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: O'Kelly, Donna Johnson
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1996.
Subjects:
Online Access:http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=739667901&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Description
Summary:This dissertation is a study of heavy ion breakup reactions
at intermediate energies. The main focus is on 16 O breakup in
view of its possible astrophysical application. A 30 AMeV 16 O
beam from the Texas A&M K500 cyclotron was used to irradiate
58Ni, 120 Sn, and 208 Pb targets. Two detectors were placed
in the focal plane of an Enge Split-Pole Magnetic
Spectrograph. Measurements were carried out at laboratory
angles of 3[], 5[], 8[], and 11[]. Additional measurements were
made with 30A MeV 2ONe incident on 12C, 58Ni, 120Sn, and
208Pb targets. The 16 O elastic breakup component was found to
be dominated by discrete peaks due to the sequential breakup
of the projectile. Little, if any, continuum component was
observed. The elastic breakup data were compared to
theoretical calculations to evaluate the relative importance
of Coulomb and nuclear breakup. Both the shapes and absolute
magnitudes of the double differential cross sections for the
sequential breakup of 30 AMeV 16 O on 120Sn and 208Pb nuclei
were reasonably well reproduced by a coupled channels
calculation using cluster model wavefunctions. The
calculations indicate a strong contribution from the nuclear
breakup even at small angles. In the 16 O experiments, breakup
was observed over a broad range of inelasticities while in
the 20Ne measurements mainly elastic breakup is observed. The
relative kinetic energy spectra for inelastic breakup show
many discrete resonances and a possible continuum component.
A simulation was developed for the sequential breakup of 16 O
into 12C + [] using all known states in 16 O up to E* = 25 MeV.
Using an initial thermal population, the relative energy
spectra for energy losses greater than = 30 MeV are well
reproduced. This again shows the dominance of a sequential
mechanism. Fits to the data give apparent temperatures which
are surprisingly large.
Item Description:Vita.
"Major Subject: Chemistry".
Physical Description:xiii, 140 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references: pages 136-139.