The Inelastic Scattering of 31-Mev Protons from Heavy Elements

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Abstract
Energy distributions, angular distributions, and total cross sections for the inelastic scattering of 31-Mev protons from four heavy elements, Pb, Au, Ta, and Sn, have been measured. Information was obtained at five scattering angles: 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, and 135°. The energy distributions do not show the Maxwellian-like behavior which would be predicted on the basis of compound nucleus theory. The differential cross sections are strongly peaked forward, increasing by about a factor of ten as the scattering angle goes from 135° to 30°. The total cross sections all have values ranging from 0.25 barns for Sn, to 0.29 barns for Pb. A model has been proposed which is capable of giving a qualitative explanation of the results of the experiment. According to the model, the inelastic scattering occurs when the incident proton collides with the rim of a target nucleus.

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