Measured cross sections for the breakup of ${}_{}{}^9{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}$ ions in the Coulomb field are found to be in disagreement with calculations based on a model which describes well the Coulomb breakup of deuterons. A possible explanation for this discrepancy in terms of Coulomb excitation of the projectile is suggested.

• Received 19 December 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.40.1077