Reaction Mechanism in Inelastic Scattering of Protons from Mg, Cr, and Other Elements from 3.5 to 7 Mev

Inelastic scattering of protons leading to the first excited states of Mg²⁴ and Cr⁵² and to single excited states of other elements has been studied. dσdω (90^∘{}) was measured as a function of proton energy from 3.5 to 7 Mev. Angular distributions of inelastically scattered protons and p^'-γ angular correlations were taken at several energies. Experimental measurements are compared with direct-interaction theory and with predictions of the statistical model. Data for Cr⁵²(p, p^')Cr52* at 5.4 Mev is well fit by the statistical model. The Mg²⁴(p, p^')Mg24* reaction at 7 Mev can be interpreted as a direct interaction. The Mg reaction at 5.4 Mev and the Cr reaction at 7 Mev appear to have a bit of direct interaction in them. It is suggested that the amount of direct interaction in this (p, p^') reaction depends on the nuclear barrier height. Statistical-model expressions for reactions studied are given in an Appendix.