Search for resonant enhancement of the $^{7}$Be+d reaction
ORAL
Abstract
$^{7}$Li abundances in the early universe, deduced from extrapolated observations, are several standard deviations lower than that estimated by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis calculations constrained by WMAP. Since most $^{7}$Li is produced by the beta decay of $^{7}$Be, one proposed solution to this long-standing puzzle is a resonant enhancement of the $^{7}$Be(d,p)2$\alpha $ reaction rate via the 5/2$^{+}$ 16.7-MeV state in $^{9}$B. The $^{7}$Be(d,d) reaction was studied at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to search for such a resonance. This was performed in inverse kinematics using a 10-MeV radioactive $^{7}$Be beam and a thick CD$_{2}$ target. The experimental data and results will be discussed.
*Work supported by DOE, NFS, and the SSGF.
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