Charge Dependence of Nuclear Forces and the Breakup of Deuterons and Tritons

The proton spectrum at 4.8° from the reaction $D(n,p)2n$, $E_n=14.4\mathrm{}$ MeV, was measured. The high-energy part of that spectrum was analyzed yielding for the neutron-neutron ${}_{}{}^1{}_{}{}^{}S_0^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ scattering length the value: $a_{\mathrm{nn}}=-21.7\mathrm{}\pm 1 \mathrm{F}$. The correction due to magnetic interaction is 0.8 F and the pure nuclear $a_{\mathrm{nn}}$ is therefore $a_{\mathrm{nn}}=-22.5\mathrm{}\pm 1 \mathrm{F}$. This experimental value is compared with the calculations of Wong and Noyes, and Lin, and indicates that nuclear forces depart by 2-3% from the charge symmetry. The charged particle spectrum at 4.8° from the reaction $n+T\to n+T$, $2n+d$, and $3n+p$, $E_n=14.4\mathrm{}$ MeV, was also measured. The effects of the final-state interactions are evident in the spectrum.