A particle selection technique developed in the MIT cyclotron laboratory has been applied to the study of the angular distributions of inelastically scattered deuterons at a bombarding energy of 15 Mev, the angular distributions of the ($d, d^{\prime }$) reactions from ${\mathrm{Li}}^6$ ($Q=-2.19\mathrm{}$ Mev), ${\mathrm{Li}}^7$ ($Q=-4.61\mathrm{}$ Mev), ${\mathrm{Be}}^9$ ($Q=-2.43\mathrm{}$ Mev), ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ ($Q=-4.43\mathrm{}$ Mev), ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{24}$ ($Q=-1.37\mathrm{}$ Mev), and ${\mathrm{Al}}^{27}$ ($Q=-2.23\mathrm{}$ Mev, $Q=-2.75\mathrm{}$ Mev) were obtained. These data were analyzed according to the nuclear interaction theory of Huby and Newns, the electric interaction theory of Mullin and Guth, and from the standpoint of compound nucleus formation. The behavior of the angular distributions indicates that for small angles (large impact parameters) electric interaction contributes appreciably. However, for large angles (small impact parameters) the nuclear interaction theory fits the data better. Consideration of the cross sections involved favors the nuclear interaction theory. Compound nucleus formation does not appear to play a major role in inelastic deuteron scattering. Improved theoretical treatments of the problem should make possible the determination of the spins and parities of nuclear states not easily reached by other reactions.

• Received 21 November 1955

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.103.1398