Cross sections relevant to gamma-ray astronomy: Proton induced reactions

Gamma-ray production cross sections have been measured for the gamma-ray lines most strongly excited in the proton bombardment of ¹²C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁶O, ²⁰Ne, ²⁴Mg, ²⁸Si, and ⁵⁶Fe, for proton energies from threshold to 23 MeV. In addition, cross sections for the ¹⁴N(p,n)¹⁴O and ⁵⁶Fe(p,n)⁵⁶Co reactions were determined from delayed gamma-ray yields. Ge(Li) detectors were used. Tabulations of cross sections averaged over proton energy bins of 1 MeV and over power law distributions in proton energy are provided for calculations relevant to gamma-ray line astronomy. Examples are given of astrophysical information which might be extracted from spectra acquired with gamma-ray spectrometers in space, using these cross sections, e.g., parameters describing the energy distribution of incident protons.NUCLEAR REACTIONS p+¹²C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁶O, ²⁰Ne, ²⁴Mg, ²⁸Si, ⁵⁶Fe; ¹⁴N(p,n), ⁵⁶Fe(p,n). E=thresholdto 23 MeV. Measured γ production cross sections. Applications to γ line astronomy.