Atomic fragments from the nuclear reaction of the ${}^6$Li atom with slow neutrons

Abstract

Approximate probabilities of formation of various atoms and ions in different bound states are determined for the exothermic nuclear $(n,{}^6$Li$;t,{}^4$He)-reaction of atomic lithium-6 with slow neutrons. In our calculations of the final state probabilities we have assumed that the incident lithium atom is in its ground (doublet) atomic ${}^{2}S(L=0)-$state. It is straightforward to generalize our analysis to other bound states of the three-electron Li atom.