Abstract
The fragmentation of a 133 pps beam of 14Be ions at 35 MeV/A on targets of carbon and lead has been used to study the structure of the unbound nucleus 13Be. Neutrons and 12Be reaction products were measured in the DeMoN array and a detector telescope placed at 0° respectively. These coincidence measurements were used to reconstruct the 13Be particles. The beam energy was measured on a particle by particle basis from the time of flight. This was essential for momentum measurements which were made in the reference frame of the projectile. A significant contribution to the experimental background came from reactions in the detector telescope, which had to be subtracted. Relative velocity (arithmetic velocity difference) and invariant mass analyses both signify the existance of significant strength close to the 12Be + n threshold. Simulations including an experimental filter clearly show that this includes strength that is localised below 500 ke V in relative energy. Momentum distributions for 12Be, 10Be, neutrons and the reconstructed 13Be particle in the longitudinal direction have been measured. The 13Be distribution displays evidence for a two component structure. Calculations of the neutron stripping from 14Be have shown that this structure requires s-wave stripping to explain the narrow component. The wider component is consistent with d- wave stripping, and additional contributions from p-wave stripping cannot be excluded. The angular distribution of neutrons from 12Be + n breakup, measured in the 13Be reference frame is essentially isotropic. There is evidence for a weak asymmetry which could be due to broad over-lapping states of both positive and negative parity at energies below 2 MeV. This would support the inclusion of a P½ resonance in the low-lying structure of 13Be.