TheD(p, d*)pCross Section from theD(p, 2p)nReaction

Three-body breakup spectra from a kinematically complete measurement of the $\mathrm{D}(p, 2p)n$ reaction have been analyzed to yield the cross section for the production of $d^{*}$, a quasiparticle consisting of a neutron and proton in a ${}_{}{}^1{}_{}{}^{}S_0^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ configuration. An excitation function of the $\mathrm{D}(p, d^{*})p$ reaction is obtained for the proton bombarding energy range 9-13 MeV. In agreement with measurements and predictions of the ($p, d^{*}$) cross section on several nuclei, the $\mathrm{D}(p, d^{*})p$ cross section is about an order of magnitude less than the elastic $\mathrm{D}(p, d)p$ cross section. The $\mathrm{D}(p, d^{*})p$ excitation function shows a peak at the bombarding energy $E_p=10.25\mathrm{}$ MeV which coincides with a ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ excitation energy of 12.4 MeV. This peak might be interpreted as either a state in ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ or a threshold effect.