Cross sections relevant to gamma-ray astronomy: Alpha-particle-induced reactions

Gamma-ray production cross sections have been measured for the gamma-ray lines most strongly excited in the alpha-particle bombardments of ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$, ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$, ${}_{}{}^{27}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Al}$, ${}_{}{}^{28}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Si}$, and ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ for alpha-particle energies from threshold to approximately 27 MeV. Tabulations of cross sections averaged over alpha-particle energy bins of 1 MeV 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.