Abstract
The ratio of the flux of 15.10-MeV gamma rays to the flux of 4.438-MeV gamma rays resulting from excitation of the corresponding states in is a sensitive measure of the spectrum of the exciting particles produced in solar flares and other cosmic sources. These gamma rays are produced predominantly by interactions with and , both of which are relatively abundant in the solar photosphere. Gamma-ray production cross sections for proton interactions have been reported previously for all important channels except for the production of 15.10-MeV gamma rays from . The first reported measurement of the 15.10-MeV gamma-ray production cross section from pO is presented here. A cyclotron was employed to produce 40-, 65-, and 85-MeV protons which interacted with and BeO targets. The resultant gamma-ray spectra were measured with a high-purity germanium semiconductor detector at 70, 90, 110, 125, and 140 deg relative to the direction of the incident beam for each proton energy. Other gamma-ray lines resulting from direct excitation and spallation reactions with and were observed as well, and their gamma-ray production cross sections, several of which have not been reported previously, are presented. The results are compared with previously reported measurements, as available.
- Received 18 August 1986
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.35.1214
©1987 American Physical Society