Effects of inelastic processes on the collision distribution in recoil systems

The collisional distribution function for recoil hot atom systems is examined to determine the influence of specific inelastic processes on the collision density over the reactive energy range. The inelastic processes considered result from collisional dissociation of target molecules. In the case of recoil tritium reaction with deuterium gas, it was found that the collisional distribution function was lowered due to dissociative collisions. The modified collision density incorporating inelastic events was used in this system to calculate the hot yields of DT as a function of inert gas moderation for comparison with experimental data. Both the magnitude and shape of the experimental yield curve were well represented over the entire range of moderator concentrations.

Duke Scholars

Author Leonard D. Spicer Radiology