STUDY OF THE Al$sup 27$(/cap alpha/,Be$sup 7$)Na$sup 24$ REACTION FROM THRESHOLD TO 41 Mev

S>Excitation functions for the formation of Na/sup 24/, Be/sup 7/, and Na/sup 22/ in the interaction of A1/sup 27/ with alpha particles were measured from threshold to 41 Mev. The cross sections at 41.2 Mev are 0.33, 0.14, and 8.0 mb, respectively, and the excitation functions exhibit a sharp rise with bombarding energy. The recoil properties of the nuclides were investigated from thick-target integral range measurement at 40 Mev. The results for Bel are consistent with approximately equal contributions from direct interaction and evaporation processes while the results for Na/sup 24/ and Na/sup 22/ indicate that these nuclides are primarily formed through processes involving compound- nucleus formation. At 40 Mev, approximately 60% of the yield of Na/sup 24/ may be attributed to the ( alpha , alpha He/sup 3/) reaction. (auth)