The D-D Cross-Section and Angular Distribution below 50KeV

The cross-section and angular distribution of the protons from the D-D reaction have been studied with bombarding energies between 15 and 50 keV using a thin gas target. The cross-section results show a significant deviation from the simple Gamow theory of penetration through a Coulomb barrier. Both this deviation and the asymmetry of the reaction at even the lowest energies can be explained consistently by the contribution to the reaction of waves of non-vanishing angular momentum. Analysis of the results in terms of such waves gives some indication that spin-orbit coupling is a significant factor in the transitions.