Activation measurement of a-induced cross sections for ¹⁹⁷Au: analysis in the statistical model and beyond

Abstract Cross sections of ( α,γ), (α,n), and (α,2n) reactions for 197Au were measured below the Coulomb barrier using the activation technique. The new data are analyzed in the statistical model and in a simple barrier transmission model. Sensitivities of the resulting cross sections on the underlying parameters are discussed. It is found that the cross sections in the statistical model depend sensitively on the tail of the imaginary α-nucleus potential at large radii outside the colliding nuclei. Contrary, the cross sections in the barrier transmission model depend only on the real part of the α-nucleus potential. The calculated cross sections in the barrier transmission model agree nicely with the new experimental data. Furthermore, the available experimental data for heavy targets above A ≈150 are also well reproduced within the barrier transmission model.