Gamma-ray production cross sections have been measured for the gamma-ray lines most strongly excited in the alpha-particle bombardments of ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$, ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$, ${}_{}{}^{27}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Al}$, ${}_{}{}^{28}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Si}$, and ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ for alpha-particle energies from threshold to approximately 27 MeV. Tabulations of cross sections averaged over alpha-particle energy bins of 1 MeV are provided for calculations relevant to gamma-ray line astronomy. Examples are given of astrophysical information which might be extracted from spectra acquired with gamma-ray spectrometers in space using these cross sections.

[NUCLEAR REACTIONS $\alpha +{}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne},{}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg},{}_{}{}^{27}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Al},{}_{}{}^{28}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Si},{}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$. $E=\mathrm{threshold}\mathrm{to} 27$ MeV. Measured gamma-ray production cross sections. Applications to gamma-ray astronomy. Ge(Li) detectors. Enriched targets.]

• Received 21 June 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.29.394