Gamma-Rays from the Reaction H1(n,γ)D2 and the Binding Energy of the Deuteron

The binding energy of the deuteron has been determined directly as 2.230+/-0.007 Mev by measuring the energy of the gamma-radiation from the reaction H¹(n,γ)D². The energy of this gamma-radiation was compared with that of the 2.615-Mev gamma-ray of ThC" by a spectrometer study of the photo-electrons ejected from a thin uranium radiator. The probable error of 0.007 Mev includes a probable error of 0.004 Mev in the energy of the ThC" gamma-ray.