The reaction 6Li(d, nγ)7 Be and the energy loss of low energy deuterons in matter

Thick target yields for the reaction ⁶Li(d, nγ)⁷ Be have been measured using LiF and LiCl targets at deuteron bombarding energies between 48 and 170 keV. Assuming recently published values for the stopping powers of deuterons in Li and F, the LiF thick target yields were used to deduce the total cross section for the reaction, ⁶Li(d, nγ)⁷ Be. The cross section varies from about 0.3 mb at 160 keV to about .004 mb at 60 keV. A comparison between the yields measured used the LiF and LiCl targets allowed a measurement of the relative stopping powers of deuterons in F and Cl. A significant discrepancy is observed between our measured values of the relative stopping powers and the predicted value of the relative stopping powers based on recently published values.