Abstract
A new approach to the production and detection of bound neutron clusters is presented. The technique is based on the breakup of beams of very neutron-rich nuclei and the subsequent detection of the recoiling proton in a liquid scintillator. The method has been tested in the breakup of intermediate energy (30-50 MeV/nucleon) Li-11, Be-14, and B-15 beams. Some six events were observed that exhibit the characteristics of a multineutron cluster liberated in the breakup of Be-14, most probably in the channel Be-10+(4)n. The various backgrounds that may mimic such a signal are discussed in detail.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 044006 (10 pg) |
| Journal | Physical Review C |
| Volume | 65(4) |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2002 |