The elastic scattering of protons by O__

Abstract

The analysis of measurements of the elastic scattering of protons by light elements can yield significant information about nuclear forces. Excitation curves that show resonance behavior can be explained in terms of nuclear phase shifts, and the study of these nuclear phase shifts can yield information as to the angular momenta and parity of states in the compound nucleus. This thesis describes experiments, and some interpretation of results, for the scattering of protons by 016, The measurements were carried out using the large volume scattering chamber at The Rice Institute. Using gaseous oxygen as a target, the differential cross section was measured as a function of incident proton energy over the energy region of 2.5 to 5.6 Mev. Before undertalcing this experiment it was decided to construct an additional detector for use in the scattering chamber. There were several reasons for this decision; with two detectors it would be possible to obtain two data points at once, thus doubling the amount of data that could be taken in a given time. With two detectors it would be possible to set one at a fixed angle and use it as a monitor. Further, it would be possible to use the two detectors in coincidence and study angular correlations.