The inclusive inelastic scattering of α particles on ${}_{}{}^2{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{H}$, ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, and ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ has been measured at 7.0 GeV/c incident momentum, between 2° and 15° in the laboratory. The momentum spectra of the recoiling α particles are richly structured, suggesting that scattering takes place, at least partially, on nuclear substructures. The differential cross sections for the three reactions show a diffractive behavior comparable to that of the corresponding elastic processes.

• Received 21 July 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.35.1416