Assessment of the alpha decay width of a near proton threshold resonance in ⁷Li(α, α)

A narrow near-threshold proton emission resonance in ¹¹B (E_x = 11.4 MeV, J_π = ½⁺) has been observed in several independent experiments conducted at Triumf (Canada), FRIB, and Florida State University. Theoretical analyses highlight the significance of coupling to the continuum, indicating a need for further experimental data to understand its characteristics. The resonant elastic scattering experiment ¹⁰Be(p, p)¹⁰Be revealed a decay to the ⁷Li + α channel. To further investigate this ⁷Li + α channel, an independent experiment was carried out at the tandem facility of Notre Dame, utilizing silicon detectors to study the ⁷Li(α, α) ⁷Li reaction. R-matrix calculations were employed to analyze the elastic and inelastic scattering excitation functions and assess the alpha decay width. This and other recent results will be discussed.