The 18F(n,α) Reaction: First Study of n-induced Reaction on a Radioactive Nucleus Using the Trojan Horse Method

For the first time the Trojan Horse Method was applied to infer information about a neutron induced reaction on a radioactive nucleus at low energies relevant for astrophysics. In particular, the F-18(n,alpha)N-15 reaction has been studied by using the F-18+d reaction. A F-18 beam was produced at the CRIB facility at RIKEN, Japan, and was focused onto a CD2 target. The beam had energy of 48 MeV, an average intensity of 10(5) pps and an average purity of 80%. A new designed experimental set-up covering a large solid angle was used to detect the ejected particles. The reaction cross section has been for the first time investigated in the energy range from 0 up to 2.5 MeV and several resonant states of F-19 have been populated.