Total reaction cross sections from $^{141}$141Pr($\alpha$,$\alpha$)$^{141}$Pr elastic scattering and $\alpha$-induced reaction cross sections at low energies

TL;DR

This study derives a new energy-dependent local potential for the $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ system from elastic scattering data, successfully predicting low-energy reaction cross sections and addressing limitations of existing global potentials.

Contribution

A novel local potential for $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ interactions was developed, improving predictions of reaction cross sections at low energies compared to global models.

Findings

New local potential accurately reproduces elastic scattering data.

Successfully predicts $^{141}$Pr($\alpha$,n)$^{144}$Pm reaction cross sections.

Explains limitations of global potentials based on scattering matrix properties.

Abstract

Elastic scattering data for $^{141}$Pr($\alpha$,$\alpha$)$^{141}$Pr have been analyzed to derive a new energy-dependent local potential for the $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ system. This potential is used successfully to predict the cross section of the $^{141}$Pr($\alpha$,n)$^{144}$Pm reaction at low energies where new experimental data have become available very recently. Contrary to various global potentials, this new potential is able to reproduce simultaneously elastic scattering data around and above the Coulomb barrier and reaction data below the Coulomb barrier for the $^{141}$Pr-$\alpha$ system. Reasons for the partial failure of the global potentials are explained by intrinsic properties of the scattering matrix and their variation with energy. The new local potential may become the basis for the construction of a new global $\alpha$-nucleus potential.