High energy proton production in medium energy nuclear reactions

Proton-inclusive cross sections were measured for 600-MeV proton-induced and 720-MeV alpha-induced reactions on natural A1 and Ta targets for Θlab = 30-150° in 30° steps at the Space Radiation Effects Laboratory. A time-of-flight detector system in conjunction with a ΔE-detector was used to measure the energy of the reaction protons. A brief review is given of several models for reaction mechanisms which may be applicable at the energies considered. The data are compared with the results of some model calculations including p-cluster scattering, intranuclear cascade, blast wave, and firestreak models. There is indirect evidence that regions of high nuclear density are formed during the collision process.