A new study of the $^{10}$B(p,$\alpha_1 \gamma$)$^{7}$Be reaction from 0.35 to 1.8 MeV

TL;DR

This study measures the cross section of the $^{10}$B(p,$eta_1 ext{gamma}$)$^{7}$Be reaction between 0.35 and 1.8 MeV, providing more accurate data for isotope quantification in various fields.

Contribution

The paper presents new absolute measurements of the $^{10}$B(p,$eta_1 ext{gamma}$)$^{7}$Be reaction cross section, resolving previous discrepancies and normalization issues.

Findings

New cross section data for $^{10}$B(p,$eta_1 ext{gamma}$)$^{7}$Be between 0.35 and 1.8 MeV.

Comparison with previous data highlights normalization discrepancies.

Derived contribution of the $eta_0$ channel from the measurements.

Abstract

The quantification of isotopes content in materials is extremely important in many research and industrial fields. Accurate determination of boron concentration is very critical in semiconductor, superconductor and steel industry, in environmental and medical applications as well as in nuclear and astrophysics research. The detection of B isotopes and of their ratio in synthetic and natural materials may be accomplished by gamma spectroscopy using the $^{10}$B(p,$\alpha_1 \gamma$)$^7$Be and $^{11}$B(p,$\gamma$)$^{12}$C reactions at low proton energy. Here, the $^{10}$B(p,$\alpha_1 \gamma$)$^7$Be cross section is reported in the center of mass energy range 0.35 to 1.8 MeV. The $E_\gamma$= 429 keV $\gamma$ rays were detected at 45$^\circ$ and 90$^\circ$ using a NaI(Tl) and an HPGe detectors, respectively. In the presented energy range, previous cross sections data revealed discrepancies and normalisation issues. Existing data are compared to the new absolute measurement and discussed. The present data have been subtracted from a previous measurement of the total cross section to derive the contribution of the $\alpha_0$ channel.