Experimental determination of the ^23Na (p, p) ^23Na excitation function from 2. 1 to 4. 1 MeV

Abstract Differential cross-section measurements for the elastic backscattering of protons from ^23 23 Na, for incident energies ranging from 2. 1 to 4. 1 MeV, were conducted using a 3 MV Tandem accelerator, with a beam directed onto a 35. 7 μ g/cm ² 2 sodium fluoride film deposited on a thin self-supporting Ag substrate. Proton backscattering spectra were recorded using a PIPS detector placed at 157^ 157 ∘ relative to the beam direction. Cross-sections were determined by comparing proton yields from ^23 23 Na and Ag, the latter treated as Rutherford scatterer, with an overall average uncertainty estimated below 8%. A comparison with previously published data is presented and the effects of the overlapping ^{23Na (p, ₁) ^20Ne} 23 Na (p, α 1) 20 Ne, ^{19F (p, ₃) ^16O} 19 F (p, α 3) 16 O and ^{19F (p, ₄) ^16O} 19 F (p, α 4) 16 O reactions are discussed. A simplified R-matrix analysis was conducted to assess the consistency between the literature level scheme and the present dataset, demonstrating satisfactory agreement. Finally, to provide an additional test of the overall validity of the measured elastic cross-section and R-matrix results, two thick target benchmark experiments are presented.