Effect of beam energy straggling on resonant yield in thin gas targets: The cases $^{22}$Ne(p,{\gamma})$^{23}$Na and $^{14}$N(p,{\gamma})$^{15}$O

TL;DR

This paper investigates how beam energy straggling affects the measurement of narrow resonance strengths in thin gas targets, providing correction methods validated on specific nuclear reactions.

Contribution

It introduces a correction approach for beam energy straggling effects in resonance strength measurements in thin gas targets, applicable to narrow resonances.

Findings

Correction for energy straggling improves accuracy of resonance strength measurements.

Validated correction method on $^{22}$Ne(p,γ)$^{23}$Na and $^{14}$N(p,γ)$^{15}$O reactions.

Highlights importance of considering target structure and detection efficiency in measurements.

Abstract

When deriving resonance strengths using the thick-target yield approximation, for very narrow resonances it may be necessary to take beam energy straggling into account. This applies to gas targets of a few keV width, especially if there is some additional structure in target stoichiometry or detection efficiency. The correction for this effect is shown and tested on recent studies of narrow resonances in the $^{22}$Ne(p,{\gamma})$^{23}$Na and $^{14}$N(p,{\gamma})$^{15}$O reactions.