(He3,α) Reactions from Nickel and Zirconium Isotopes

The stable isotopes of nickel and zirconium, with the exception of ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{96}$, have been irradiated with a 25-MeV ${\mathrm{He}}^3$ beam. Absolute cross sections for (${\mathrm{He}}^3$, $\alpha$) reactions have been measured. The (${\mathrm{He}}^3$, $\alpha$) angular distributions for $l$ transfers of 1 and 3 were found to contain some $J$-dependent effects, especially in the lighter isotopes of nickel. Distorted-wave Born-approximation (DWBA) predictions for all of the measured angular distributions are presented. Corrections for finite-range nonlocal potential were included in the DWBA calculations by use of the local-energy approximation. Spectroscopic factors were extracted. Some discussion on the merits of the (${\mathrm{He}}^3$, $\alpha$) reaction as a general nuclear spectroscopic tool is presented.