A Cloud-Chamber Study of the Disintegration of Lithium by Slow Neutrons

The ranges of tritons and alpha-particles formed in the slow neutron reaction ⁶Li(n,α)³H have been measured in a cloud chamber and found to be R_α=10.4±0.2 mm and R_³H=60.0±0.6 mm in air at N.T.P.; the corresponding Q values, derived from the blue-printed Cornell energy vs. range curves, disagree, and the Q derived by the proton relation is also in disaccordance with other data. The discrepancies suggest the establishment of a new point on the proton energy vs. range curve, viz., Rₚ=20.0 mm, Eₚ=0.88 Mev, which means a reduction of the energy by about 6 percent.