A study is made of the proton and triton continua from the deuteron bombardment of ${\mathrm{Li}}^6$ in order to obtain information on the mechanism of the three-particle reaction and on the properties of the ground state of ${\mathrm{Li}}^5$. Because of the great breadth of this state, an unambiguous interpretation is not possible. The most likely mechanism is ${\mathrm{Li}}^6(d, t){\mathrm{Li}}^5\mathrm{}\left(p\right)\mathrm{}{\mathrm{He}}^4$, with a $Q=0.80\mathrm{}\pm 0.15$ Mev for the primary reaction (mass defect of ${\mathrm{Li}}^5$=12.95±0.15 Mev), and a width of the ground state of ${\mathrm{Li}}^5$ equal to 2.0±0.2 Mev (in the c.m. system).

• Received 27 January 1958

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.110.939