Thermal neutron induced charged particle reactions in radioactive targets of $^{37}$Ar, $^{109}$Cd, $^{125}$Xe, $^{127}$Xe, and $^{132}$Cs

Thermal neutron induced charged particle reactions in a radioactive target of /sup 37/Ar have been studied. Upper limits of the cross- sections for the (n, alpha ) reaction in radioactive targets of /sup 109/Cd, /sup 125,127/Xe, and /sup 132/Cs have been obtained. The isotopically pure targets were produced at the ISOLDE facility at CERN and irradiated with thermal neutrons at the high flux reactor of the Institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. Charged particles from (n, p) and (n, alpha ) reactions in /sup 37/Ar were observed with cross-sections of 69+or-14 b and 1970+or-330b, respectively. The Q-values for these reactions were determined to be 1600+or-12 keV and 4630+or-7 keV, in agreement with existing mass data. The branching ratio Gamma /sub alpha // Gamma /sub p/ of the /sup 37/Ar capturing state was found to be 28.5+or-2.7. An upper limit of the cross-section for the (n, gamma alpha ) reaction in /sup 37/Ar was obtained. (18 refs).