Study of the LITHIUM-7(HELIUM-3, Alpha)lithium -6* Reaction.

Differential cross sections for formation of the 5.37 MeV (J'' = 2('+),T = 1) level in ('6)Li have been measured via the reaction ('7)Li(('3)He,(alpha))('6)Li at incident ('3)He energies in the range 0.7-2.5 MeV and for angles in the range 20(DEGREES) (LESSTHEQ) (theta)(Lab) (LESSTHEQ) 160(DEGREES). Data for the g.s., 2.18 and 3.56 MeV excited states of ('6)Li were also obtained. The results for the g.s. and the first two excited states are in good agreement with previous measurements and show no clear resonance structure. The excitation function for the 5.37 MeV state, however, exhibits resonance structure at incident ('3)He energies of 1.45 and 2.15 MeV, corresponding to formation of states in the compound nucleus, ('10)B, at 18.8 and 19.3 MeV excitation respectively. The experimental data were compared with the results of DWBA calculations using the computer code DWUCK4. Coincident events between the first emitted alpha particle and the decay alpha's or proton's were detected using a counter telescope in the reaction plane at several appropriately chosen angle pairs at an incident ('3)He energy of 2.15 MeV. Branching ratios for the allowed decay modes ('5)He + p and (alpha) + p + n, as well as the isospin forbidden decay into (alpha) + d, were deduced from the data.