The alpha-alpha interaction is described by a two body potential. It is shown that there is a two body potential of the Woods-Saxon form which gives correctly the energy and the decay width of the ${}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}$ ground state and also the phase shifts for $L=0, 2, 4, \mathrm{and} 6$. The wave function representing the alpha particles in the ${}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}$ ground state has radial quantum number equal to three.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}(\alpha , \alpha ){}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, $E_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.\mathrm{}}=0.2\mathrm{} \mathrm{to} 15$ MeV. Computation of decay and scattering parameters and comparison with experimental values.

• Received 18 July 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.28.2525