Atomic fragments from the nuclear reaction of the ${}^{6}$Li atom with slow neutrons

TL;DR

This paper calculates the approximate probabilities of forming different atoms and ions in various bound states resulting from the nuclear reaction of lithium-6 with slow neutrons, assuming the atom is initially in its ground state.

Contribution

It provides a new method to estimate formation probabilities of atomic fragments in nuclear reactions involving lithium-6 and slow neutrons.

Findings

Probabilities for atom and ion formation in different states are determined.

Analysis assumes initial lithium atom in its ground state.

Method can be extended to other bound states of lithium.

Abstract

Approximate probabilities of formation of various atoms and ions in different bound states are determined for the exothermic nuclear $(n,{}^{6}$Li$;t,{}^{4}$He)-reaction of atomic lithium-6 with slow neutrons. In our calculations of the final state probabilities we have assumed that the incident lithium atom is in its ground (doublet) atomic ${}^2S(L = 0)-$state. It is straightforward to generalize our analysis to other bound states of the three-electron Li atom.