Proton elastic scattering and proton induced γ-ray emission cross-sections on Na from 2 to 5 MeV

Differential cross-sections for proton elastic scattering on sodium and for γ-ray emission from the reactions 23Na(p,p′γ)23Na (Eγ = 440 keV and Eγ = 1636 keV) and 23Na(p,α′γ)20Ne (Eγ = 1634 keV) were measured for proton energies from 2.2 to 5.2 MeV using a 63 μg/cm2 NaBr target evaporated on a self-supporting thin C film.The γ-rays were detected by a 38% relative efficiency Ge detector placed at an angle of 135° with respect to the beam direction, while the backscattered protons were collected by a Si surface barrier detector placed at a scattering angle of 150°. Absolute differential cross-sections were obtained with an overall uncertainty estimated to be better than ±6.0% for elastic scattering and ±12% for γ-ray emission, at all the beam energies.To provide a convincing test of the overall validity of the measured elastic scattering cross-section, thick target benchmark experiments at several proton energies are presented.