Nuclear interaction dynamics in the 56Fe (α, xn) reaction

Neutron spectra and angular distributions in the 56Fe (α, xn) reaction are measured at α-particle energies of 12.5, 16.3, 18.3, 26.8, and 45.2 MeV. The measurements are performed using time-of-flight fast neutron spectrometers on pulsed accelerators. The measured data are analyzed in the context of equilibrium, preequilibrium, and direct nuclear reaction mechanisms. The contributions from equilibrium, preequilibrium, and direct mechanisms of neutron emission are studied over a wide range of α-particle energies.