Proton elastic scattering and proton induced γ-ray emission cross-sections on Na from 2 to 5 MeV

Differential cross-sections for proton elastic scattering on sodium and for gamma-ray emission from the reactions Na-23(p,p'gamma)Na-23 (E-gamma = 440 keV and E-gamma = 1636 keV) and Na-23(p,alpha'gamma)Ne-20 (E-gamma = 1634 keV) were measured for proton energies from 2.2 to 5.2 MeV using a 63 mu g/cm(2) NaBr target evaporated on a self-supporting thin C film. The gamma-rays were detected by a 38% relative efficiency Ge detector placed at an angle of 135 degrees with respect to the beam direction, while the backscattered protons were collected by a Si surface barrier detector placed at a scattering angle of 150 degrees. Absolute differential cross-sections were obtained with an overall uncertainty estimated to be better than +/- 6.0% for elastic scattering and +/- 12% for gamma-ray emission, at all the beam energies. To provide a convincing test of the overall validity of the measured elastic scattering cross-section, thick target benchmark experiments at several proton energies are presented. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.