Classical Analysis of the ReactionBe9(Li7,Li8)Be8

The mechanism of the reaction ${\mathrm{Be}}^9$(${\mathrm{Li}}^7$,${\mathrm{Li}}^8$)${\mathrm{Be}}^8$, $Q=0.36\mathrm{}$ Mev, from which the angular distribution of ${\mathrm{Li}}^8$ has been measured by Norbeck, Blair, Pinsonneault, and Gerbracht (NBPG), is analyzed from a classical viewpoint. The reaction is one of neutron pickup by the ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$, and it is assumed that due to the low reaction energy and relatively low mass of the neutron the ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$ and ${\mathrm{Be}}^9$ are not unrecognizably perturbed from the classical hyperbolic orbits they would follow under Coulomb repulsion. For the NBPG data taken at 2-Mev ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$ bombarding energy it is noted that the blurring of the classical trajectories due to diffraction is about 37% in the angle of deviation. Comparison of NPGB's cross sections per steradian for ${\mathrm{Li}}^8$ formation with those calculated from Rutherford's formula show that 1 in ${10}^6$ passing ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$ nuclei can capture a neutron from ${\mathrm{Be}}^9$ in encounters in which the perinuclear distance is as great as (3.0±0.55)×${10}^{-12\mathrm{}}$ cm.