Measurement of 9Be(3He,pi )11B (i = 0, 1, ..., 9) nuclear reaction cross sections in the 1.0 MeV to 2.5 MeV energy range

Abstract

In fusion materials research using ion beam analysis techniques, the reactions 9Be(3He,pi )11B (i = 0, 1, 2…) are relevant to probe Be-related plasma-wall interactions. The cross sections for this reaction have been examined previously; nevertheless, there is a ∼40% difference in the studied energy interval between the two most relevant earlier studies. Therefore, a new data set for the differential cross sections 9Be(3He,pi )11B for the proton groups i = 0, 1, …, 9 is given. The measurements were performed using a thin beryllium film in the laboratory energy range from 1.0 MeV to 2.5 MeV in steps of 50 keV for lab angles from 115° to 165° to the incoming beam direction in steps of 10°. Additional measurements for intermediate angles were performed over the same energy range in steps of 250 keV. The results are in good agreement with one of the previous studies and a benchmarking measurement was performed against the yield of a beryllium thick target at 2.5 MeV for 135°.