Measurement of the Energies of the Neutrons from Lithium Bombarded with Deuterons

The energy distribution of the neutrons resulting from the disintegration of lithium by 0.8 MV deuterons has been investigated by the observation of recoils in a high pressure cloud chamber. Both hydrogen and helium recoils have been observed at different pressures in the cloud chamber so as to cover the whole spectrum. It has been found that the reactions Li7 + D2 → Be8 + n Be8 → He4 + He4 Li7 + D2 → He5 + He4 He5 → He4 + n account for most of the neutrons. The levels found in Be8 and the ground state in He5 have energies which agree with the values from other experiments. The low energy part of the spectrum may include neutrons from Li6.