Experimental study to explore the $\rm ^8Be$ induced nuclear reaction via the Trojan Horse Method

TL;DR

This study uses the Trojan Horse Method to investigate the short-lived nucleus 8Be within 9Be, providing a new indirect approach to explore 8Be-induced astrophysical reactions and validating the cluster structure hypothesis.

Contribution

It is the first experimental validation of 8Be as a cluster within 9Be using the Trojan Horse Method, demonstrating a novel indirect approach for studying 8Be-induced reactions.

Findings

Confirmed the cluster structure of 8Be inside 9Be

Reconstructed the neutron momentum distribution in 9Be

Validated the Trojan Horse Method for short-lived nuclei

Abstract

To explore a possible indirect method for $\rm ^8Be$ induced astrophysical reactions, the $\rm ^9Be=({}^8Be+\it n)$ cluster structure was studied via the Trojan Horse Method. It is the first time to study a super short life nucleus $\rm ^8Be$ via the Trojan Horse Method, and it is the first time to make a valid test for $l=1$ Trojan-horse nucleus. The $\rm ^9Be$ nucleus is assumed to have a ($\rm {}^8Be+\it n$) cluster structure and used as the Trojan-horse nucleus. The $\rm ^8Be$ nucleus acts as a participant, while the neutron is a spectator to the virtual $\rm ^8Be +{\it d}\rightarrow \alpha + {}^6Li$ reaction via a suitable 3-body reaction $\rm ^9Be +{\it d}\rightarrow \alpha + {}^6Li +\it n$. The experimental neutron momentum distribution inside $\rm ^9Be$ was reconstructed. The agreement between experimental and theoretical momentum distribution indicates that there should be a ($\rm {}^8Be+\it n$) cluster structure inside $\rm ^9Be$. Therefor the experimental study of $\rm ^8Be$ induced reactions, for example the experimental measurement of the $\rm ^8Be +\alpha \rightarrow {}^{12}C$ reaction proceeding through the Hoyle state, is possible.