Interaction of medium‐energy nucleons with complex nuclei

Although the structure of matter has intrigued and tantalized mankind for tens of centuries, it is only within the past few decades that we have built the tools with which to explore atomic nuclei. The reason for this state of affairs is to be found in the minute size of atomic nuclei and in the fact that each nucleus, by virtue of its proton inhabitants, is surrounded by a coat of armor in the form of an electrostatic, or Coulomb, field. To penetrate this field requires either high‐energy charged particles, or particles without charge, namely neutrons; but these latter are themselves constituents of complex nuclei and must be dislodged from their natural habitat either by nuclear interactions (which again involves Coulomb‐barrier penetration) or by a self‐sustaining chain reaction in fissionable material.

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