Elastic scattering of protons by beryllium

A new experimental technique has been developed to measure excitation functions for the 9Be(p, p) reaction. This technique uses thick targets and applies the elastic backscattering method. The angular distribution was measured for scattering angles from 142° to 165° in the proton energy region between 2300 and 2700 eV. Elastic scattering data were analyzed and fitted in terms of a combination of Breit-Wigner resonant cross sections and a constant background. The differential cross-section measurements were compared where possible to previous data using thin targets. Analysis of the present data indicates that the scattering is probably not s-wave but a mixture of p- and d-wave. The experimental technique is simple in practice and very time efficient. It can be used to make absolute measurements of the nuclear reaction or elastic scattering cross sections for many other projectile-target combinations.