Photodisintegration of Helium-3 at Energies between 200 and 600 MEV

Author: McDonald, Kirk Thomas

Year: 1972

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Heusch, Clemens A.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/E7PT-0T58

Abstract

We have measured differential cross-sections for the two-body photodisintegration of Helium-3, ɣ + He³ → p + d, between incident photon energies of 200 and 600 MeV, and for center of mass frame angles between 30° and 150°. Both final state particles were detected in arrays of wire spark chambers and scintillation counters; the high momentum particle was analyzed in a magnet spectrometer. The results are interpreted in terms of amplitudes to produce the ∆(1236) resonance in an intermediate state, as well as non-resonant amplitudes. This experiment, together with an (unfinished) experiment on the inverse reaction, p + d → He³ + ɣ, will provide a reciprocity test of time reversal invariance.

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