Q-Values as Measured Through Resonance Energies

Abstract

The usual determination of Q-values of a nuclear reaction involves the measurement of the energies of the primary particle and of one of the reaction products at a fixed angle. The Q-value then follows from the reaction kinematics. For intensity reasons one is usually forced, at least for the reaction product, to use large aperture magnetic spectrometers which must be calibrated with some particle of known energy, which should be as close to the unknown as possible. Moreover, ordinary and differential hysteresis add to the difficulties encountered in calibration.