²⁹Si(α, n)³²S reaction from 2.15 to 5.25 MeV bombarding energy

Abstract

Levels in the compound nucleus ³³S have been investigated by measuring the reaction cross section for the reaction ²⁹Si(α, n)³²S for incident a energies from 2.15 to 5.25 MeV, mostly in steps of 2.5 keV, using a 4π -geometry neutron counter. One hundred and thirty-four resonances have been identified. The reciprocity theorem has been used to calculate the total cross section for the inverse reaction 32S(n, α)²⁹Si. Total widths have been determined for 107 resonances, and partial widths Γ_α, Γ_n and corresponding reduced widths γ_α², γ_n²have been extracted for 19 cases where spin values are known. Statistical strength function analysis of the cross section under the excitation curve gave the averaged a particle strength function value as S¯ _α=0.067±0.012 for this reaction.